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The Big Sail — Stanford University vs. Cal Berkeley

St. Francis YC hosted the annual Cal Berkeley vs. Stanford University rivalry regatta — the Big Sail — on Wednesday, November 20. The hot and heavy racing took place literally within a stone’s throw of StFYC’s decks and picture windows.

The racers were cheered on by the universities’ alumni, students and actual cheerleading squads. Master Alumni, Young Alumni, Grand Master Alumni, Women and Varsity sailed in the club’s matched fleet of one-design J/22s.

Stanford women’s crew at Big Sail, StFYC.
© 2025 Al Sargent

The format was two-on-two team racing. Everyone fought to avoid fourth place, as fourth place automatically loses the race for your team.

November 20 was a stormy day, with cold rain and winds of 25 knots gusting to 35. Photographer Chris Ray called it, “Wet, windy and more than a bit wild.” Skippers were Cole Hatton, Clay Karmel, Sally Mace, Al Sargent and Dylan Sih for Stanford; and Zander Doroski, Emerson Marquez, Nicolai Sponholtz and Samantha Treadwell for UC Berkeley.

Stanford dominated, winning eight races, while Cal won only two. (Cal fans were no doubt somewhat mollified when their football team four-peated in the Big Game.) See stfyc.com/racing for complete scores (of the sailing, not the ballgame).

See more local (and distant) racing reports in January’s Racing Sheet.

Sailing

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