Support URI Sailing at the 2026 ICSA Fleet Race National Championships
About URI Sailing
The University of Rhode Island Sailing Team proudly continues its legacy of excellence, representing Rhody in competition against some of the best collegiate programs and top sailors in the country. The program is coming off an impressive two-year run of success and the team is excited to continue building on this momentum.
URI Sailing has enjoyed a strong couple of seasons with standout performances from its student-athletes. In 2024, Kero Erkmen earned honorable mention All-American honors, and Okyanus Arikan placed third at the Women’s Singlehanded Nationals. In 2025, Erkmen was named an All-American, Abbie Chipps earned honorable mention All-American, Arikan finished fourth at the Women’s Singlehanded Nationals, and the Women’s Team advanced to the ACC finals for the first time in three years. These achievements highlight the team’s dedication, skill, and continued rise as a competitive force in collegiate sailing.
The team’s success is made possible through the continued support of alumni, families, and friends who help enhance the student-athlete experience. As a club sport, the program is largely student-run and depends on the generosity of alumni, families, and friends to support its operations and competitive goals.
How Your Gift Helps
Support for the team is directed through RhodyNow: Sailing Club Team, the program’s immediate-use charitable fund. This fund is managed by the URI Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all gifts are tax-deductible. Contributions are used directly to meet the team’s current needs.
Gifts to the Sailing Team help offset the cost of participation for student-athletes and support essential expenses such as travel, lodging, regatta entry fees, equipment upkeep, and safety-related costs.
Current Fundraising Priority: 2026 ICSA Fleet Race National Championships
This season, the team is raising $20,000 to support travel to two national championship events: the ICSA Women’s Fleet Race National Championship (May 15–18) and the ICSA Open Fleet Race National Championship (May 19–22).
Competing at the national level requires significant planning and resources, including transportation, lodging, and regatta expenses. Support from this campaign helps ensure that our sailors can compete at both championships and proudly represent URI on the national stage.
Your generosity helps make these opportunities possible and allows the team to continue building on URI’s strong sailing tradition.
Suggested Gift Amounts
Your gift of any size makes a difference. Here are some examples of how support can help:
$25 helps provide essential team travel supplies
$50 supports meals for student-athletes during competition travel
$100 helps offset local transportation costs
$250 helps cover lodging for one night for a student-athlete
$500 supports major travel expenses
$1,000 sponsors a significant portion of regatta travel or lodging
$2,500 helps underwrite a major portion of the team’s travel to Nationals
Every gift helps the team get one step closer to competing at the national championships.
Stay Connected
Follow URI Sailing on Instagram @urisailingteam to keep up with training, competitions, and team highlights.
Also follow the URI Foundation on all platforms at @alumniuri for updates on giving opportunities, stories of impact, and ways to support student-athletes.
Join the conversation, share your support, and help spread the Rhody spirit!
