The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine sailing team is poised to return to Maryland for the Intercollegiate Sailing Association's (ICSA) Women's Fleet Race National Championship, hosted by St. Mary's College on May 20-23. UH will compete on the waters of the St. Mary's River for the second time this season. 

The field of 36 teams from across the country will be divided into two semi-finals groups of 18, the Western and Eastern fleets. The first two days of competition will be the semifinals, with the top nine schools of each division moving on to the finals. The finals will take place over the last two days, where the remaining 18 schools will compete for the crown of Women's Fleet Race National Champion.

The Rainbow Wahine have qualified for the national championship tournament for the fourth consecutive year, and 22nd overall. The 'Bows are looking to advance to the finals round for the first time since the 2012 season.

The women punched their ticket to the tournament after a runner-up finish at the PCCSC Championships, just over a month ago in the home waters of Ke'ehi Lagoon. Representing UH in Maryland will be the familiar squad of Morgan Carew, Martha Schuessler, and Stella Taherian, joined by all-conference selections Vivian Bønsager, Malia Johnson, and Sophia Shaeffer. The group will look to improve on Hawai'i's 15th-place semifinal finish last year at the national tournament in Boston.

Two months prior, the 'Bows traveled to Maryland to compete in the St. Mary's Fleet Race, finishing eighth in a field of 18 schools. The Hawai'i sailors are hoping to use their familiarity of the St. Mary's River to improve on their last outing.

In the 28 years of existence, the Rainbow Wahine sailors have missed nationals just five times, excluding the cancellation of the 2020 event due to COVID-19. The Rainbow Wahine previously captured the title of national champion 24 years ago in the 2001 season.

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