2025 Highlights
2025 was an exciting year for New Jersey youth sailors, marked by standout performances and unforgettable moments both on and off the water. The summer season featured many highlights.
June
New Jersey sailors from 73 Sailing topped the podium at two separate Club 420 regional championships in late June 2025. 🥇🥇
Miles Cundey (Mantoloking, NJ) and Julia Palmisciano won the 45-boat fleet at the C420 Mid-Atlantic Championship hosted by Seaside Park Yacht Club on June 24-25.
Later that week, Cole Buczkowski (Point Pleasant, NJ) and Sage Sakowicz (Lavallette, NJ) finished first in the 79-boat fleet at the C420 New England Championship hosted by Sail Newport on June 28-29.
Not to be outdone, that same weekend Jackson Bjorklund (Seaside Park, NJ/Indialantic, FL) won the 2025 ILCA 6 US Championship hosted by Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club. Jackson finished the regatta with straight bullets, earning a spot at the 2026 ILCA 6 World Championship in Vilamoura, Portugal.
July
NJ podium appearances continued at the 2025 Club 420 Women’s North American Championship hosted by Wianno Yacht Club on July 17-18. 🥇🥈
After two wet and wild days of racing, Charlotte Cundey (Mantoloking, NJ) and Caroline Collins secured the championship and Megan Soos (Morristown, NJ) and Sally Davis placed second in the 47-boat fleet.
On the west coast, Heidi Sanchez of Short Hills, NJ, received the prestigious New York Yacht Club Sportsmanship Award at the 2025 USODA Opti Nationals, held in July at the California Yacht Club. Heidi is an 8th grader at the Millburn Middle School. She sails with the Coastal Elite Racing Team (CERT) and is a member of the Toms River (NJ) Yacht Club.
The Sportsmanship Award honors a sailor who represents the values of the sport, including fairness, honesty, and respect for others. Awarded annually since 1993, it recognizes “outstanding sportsmanship on the water and on shore during the Championship”. Heidi’s conduct and character made her a standout choice for this special honor.
August
Shortly after securing the New Jersey State Championship in August, Arman Guler (Gladstone, NJ) represented Team USA at the IODA Optimist South American Championship in Salinas, Ecuador. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
Arman is a freshman at Gill St. Bernard’s School and a member of the USODA National Team. He began sailing in the summer of 2022 and has trained with CERT for the last three years. A highlight of his time in Salinas was sailing among the breaching whales.
