University of Toronto 2025 CICSA MR National Champions

2025 CICSA Match Racing National Champions – UofT

Mar 13, 2025

Richard Rychlik Jr., Maya Mills, Take Kawashima, and Sabrina Simon representing the University of Toronto have been crowned 2025 Canadian Intercollegiate Sailing Association Match Racing National Champions after 3 days of intense racing. Dalhousie’s Cameron Bruce, Harrison Bruce, and Elsie Gillis were runners up, with University of Victoria’s Maclain Walsworth, Ellissa McCann, Matthew Young, and Jack Gibbons securing third place. 

In the finals match, between UofT and an intense series was brewing. In the round robin matchup between these competitors, Dal’s Cameron Bruce was able to handily defeat UofT, leading them to enter the semis and finals as the one seed. However, this did not stop UofT from winning the first match with a solid lead. UofT continued this streak, winning the start and holding onto their lead through the finish line, putting them up 2-0. Dal would need to win three straight in order to win the National Championship.

Dalhousie and UofT battling it out on the downwind

Facing elimination down 2-0, Dal would not go down easy. In the third race, UofT was able to win the start, winning the pin end of the line, and also placing a penalty on Dal early in the prestart. This did not stop Bruce from fighting. UofT was leading the entire race, and split gates with Bruce on the last upwind leg. UofT picked course right, with Dal choosing course left. Coming together on port layline, Bruce was able to cross and cement a solid lead coming around the top mark into the finish line. Bruce continued to dominate the downwind, and was able to “spin to win” clearing their penalty right into the finish line, taking race three preventing elimination. 

Moving on to the fourth race of the day, with a tight prestart, UofT was able to start in a “tight to leeward” position, pinching Dal off, forcing a tack and a sprint out to the right side of the course. With UofT leading around the windward, Dal was looking to keep the race tight, looking for any mistake to pounce and gain an advantage. UofT continued to lead around the race course, leading into the final leg into the finish. Dal managed to stay within 3-5 boat lengths, and quickly closed the gap coming into the finish. This was a drag race into the finish. If UofT could stay ahead, they would win the series, with Dal needing this win to stay alive. Following multiple gybes and stressful maneuvers, UofT was able to maintain their lead, crossing the finish line half a boat length ahead of Dalhousie. With a raise of the yellow flag off the committee, UofT1 was christened 2025 CICSA Match Racing National Champions.    

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