Stanford Women Sweep College Nationals Fleet Racing. Women’s and Open!
Led by A Division winner Michelle Lahrkamp, wearing Tajima Polarized Prescription Lens Technology in Copper Rose Silver Mirror, the Cardinal went where no collegiate women had gone before!
With Michelle controlling A Division and her Freshman sister Vanessa helming B Division, the Stanford ladies first took out the Women’s Nationals over Yale in convincing fashion. Then narrowly missed winning Team Racing which would have seen Stanford ultimately run the table. Instead, they settled for what no other female sailors have ever achieved – an all-women’s team of sailors on the water winning Open Coed Fleet racing! The culmination and top prize of the Collegiate Sailing Spring Nationals. No other team in the history of Collegiate Sailing has won both the Women’s and Open Fleet Racing titles. With the Lahrkamp sisters making it a family affair. Both receiving first-team All-American Women’s and Open All-American honors emblematic of their success over the entire season and the culminating in making nationals history.
“Who run the world, GIRLS!! Women’s and Open Natty Champs,” posted Michelle on her Instagram feed pictured with her female teammates in post-race celebration and on-water combat mode.
“To see these girls achieve what our program never has in our history is amazing. But seeing Michelle lead the team, battle in A-Division against the very best in our sport, every single day for 10 days straight of grueling Nationals racing without a break – is something no winning collegiate sailor has ever done and testament to her fitness, focus, raw desire and dedication,” remarked Tajima Direct co-founder and former captain of the Stanford Varsity Sailing Team, Jacob Rosenberg.
“Having the opportunity to sail with Michelle in my senior year on the team, her freshman year, and now go back in the past few seasons since graduating to train with the team ahead of nationals, you could see the talent and how she matured. Getting to know Michelle and then counseling her about her vision, lens technology, and creating the right prescription polarized technology for her on the water makes it even more gratifying,” continues Rosenberg.
“I have to sail in prescription lenses. Contacts don’t do it for me. Reading breeze and current is critical to my success on the water – as well as the protection from the elements. I wanted a lens tint that would carry me through the various light conditions and bodies of water we encounter over a season. After speaking with Jacob, I settled on the all-around nature of the Copper Rose tint with Silver Mirror. The details, color contrast, and broad spectrum of performance from this lens made all the difference,” said Lahrkamp.
Congratulations to Michelle, Vanessa and all of the outstanding women (and men) on the new national champion Stanford Sailing Team!