HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i women's sailing team received an at-large bid from the Intercollegiate Sailing Association's (ICSA) National Championship Selection Committee, April 28, and is set to return to St. Petersburg, Fla. for the ICSA Women's Fleet Race National Championship, hosted by the University of South Florida on May 15-18. UH will enter as the 27th ranked school, after a third-place finish at the PCCSC Fleet Race Championship in mid-April.

The field of 36 teams from across the country will be divided into two semi-finals groups. The semifinals of the regatta will be held over the first two days, with the top nine schools of each division moving on to the finals round. The finals will be held over the last two days, where the remaining 18 teams will battle for the 2026 Women's Fleet Race National Championship.

This at-large bid marks the fifth consecutive year that the Rainbow Wahine have qualified for the national championship tournament, and 23rd overall. After nearly advancing following an 11th place result in last year's fleet race national championship semi-finals, the 'Bows will continue to pursue a finals round qualification for the first time since the 2012 season.

Just over two months ago, the 'Bows made the lengthy journey to Florida to compete in the South Florida Team Race, putting forth a strong effort and finishing second. Using its familiarity with these waters, UH will look to turn its previous success into a strong postseason performance.

In the 29 years of existence at the University of Hawai'i, the Rainbow Wahine sailors have missed nationals just five times, excluding the cancellation of the 2020 event due to COVID-19. The Rainbow Wahine captured their only national championship 24 years ago in the 2001 season.

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