Ireland's Sophie Crosbie has been crowned RS Aero 5 North American Champion after winning six of the nine races at the 2026 RS Aero North American Championships, hosted by Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, Connecticut, from 9–11th October.
Crosbie, who sails with Royal Cork Yacht Club, has been a regular front-runner in the Irish RS Aero fleet, as Afloat reported. She won the 2025 RS Aero Western Championships at Blessington and led the women at the 2026 Irish National Championships in Rush, finishing fourth overall after winning the final race on corrected time.
Her latest international victory comes as Ireland prepares to host the RS Aero European Championships at Howth Yacht Club in August 2027.
Crosbie dominated opening day with four consecutive race wins before adding two more victories in Sunday's demanding finale to secure the title ahead of Hannah Austin and Jaime Mack.
Starting Line-Up – RS Aero competitors jockey for position at the start of a race during the 2026 North American Championships at Cedar Point Yacht Club, Connecticut. Photo: Uwe Schreiner
The North American class association recognised the Irish sailor's achievement, confirming that her name would be engraved on the championship trophy despite her being an overseas competitor.
"Sophie Crosbie from Ireland won the 5s. We (the officers of the NA class association) will put her name on that trophy," the North American class president said." "As far as we are concerned, she is the North American 5 rig champion."
Centre Stage – Ireland's Sophie Crosbie (centre, in green) joins fellow competitors at Cedar Point Yacht Club after winning the RS Aero 5 North American Championship with six race victories. Photo: Uwe Schreiner
The association stressed that the championships are open to international competitors, adding that visiting sailors who win their divisions are entitled to the same recognition as North American entrants.
Six Race Wins in Changing Conditions
The three-day championship drew sailors from the United States, Canada and Ireland, along with US-based competitors representing Italy, Poland and Colombia. All four RS Aero rigs, the 5, 6, 7 and 9, competed in a nine-race series that tested sailors across three contrasting days of racing on Long Island Sound.
Friday opened with a north-northwesterly breeze of 12–20 knots, producing gusty, shifting conditions on trapezoid courses.
Heavy Weather Duel – Two RS Aero competitors battle through steep waves during a demanding championship finale, with boat handling and downwind control proving crucial. Photo: Uwe Schreiner
Crosbie made an immediate impression in the Aero 5 fleet, winning all four races. Jaime Mack and Hannah Austin were among her closest challengers.
Saturday brought a change in conditions, with a lighter southerly breeze and choppy seas that put greater emphasis on maintaining momentum and choosing the right shifts.
Nathalie Jacob emerged as the day's leading Aero 5 performer, winning all three races, while Crosbie remained consistently among the front runners. Austin also strengthened her position with a series of second-place finishes, moving into second overall.
Heavy Weather Finale on Long Island Sound
Sunday delivered the championship's most demanding conditions, with an easterly breeze of 12–18 knots gusting to 25 knots and steep waves testing boat handling and downwind control.
With only one discard available across the series, the leading sailors faced considerable pressure to avoid costly mistakes. Crosbie responded by winning both remaining Aero 5 races, completing a championship run with six victories across the nine-race programme.
The final day's windward-leeward courses provided a challenging conclusion to an event that had already tested competitors in three different wind directions.
Fleet Formation – RS Aero sailors compete on Long Island Sound, where nine races across four rig divisions decided the 2026 North American Championship titles. Photo: Uwe Schreiner
Titles Decided Across Four RS Aero Fleets
Elsewhere, Buff Wendt secured the RS Aero 6 championship after a consistent series, finishing ahead of Giorgio Martelli and Anne Kochendorfer.
Antonio Maya-Lefort won the Aero 7 division after a closely contested final day against Sam Blouin, with Andy Mack completing the podium.
In the Aero 9 fleet, Joe Burcar took the overall title ahead of Frederico Bediaga and Keith Hammer, despite Hammer winning both races on the final day.
Wave Challenge – Steep seas and easterly gusts of up to 25 knots tested competitors during the final day of the 2026 RS Aero North American Championships in Connecticut. Photo: Uwe Schreiner
The event was preceded by a training clinic on 8th October, with Madhavan Thirumalai leading a session on sail settings, body position and boat speed. Head umpire Rob Overton also discussed Rule 42 and took an RS Aero sailing to gain first-hand experience of the lightweight dinghy before officiating.
The North American class president praised the host club's volunteers, race committee and visiting competitors, highlighting the combination of competitive racing and practical coaching. The next RS Aero North American Championship is scheduled for Seattle from 3–5th April 2027.
