STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford skipper Vanessa Lahrkamp has been named the Quantum Women's Sailor of the Year for the second consecutive season, as announced by the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) following the conclusion of the ICSA Women's Fleet Race Championships.
Established in 2003 and presented by Quantum Sails, the Women's Sailor of the Year award is presented annually to the ICSA's most outstanding female collegiate sailor of the season.
Lahrkamp was voted unanimously for the award and joins Dartmouth's Diedre Lambert (2013-14) as just the second multiple-time Quantum Women's Sailor of the Year honoree.
"Vanessa has consistently challenged me to be a better coach and I’m sure her teammates feel similarly," head coach Chris Klevan said. "She is a unique talent on the water, however, her ability as a sailor could not possibly cover the depth of her quality as a person. In watching her sail, she balances her physical and mental strength with a precise and bold strategy. On land, her mentality is consistent with the approach she applies daily at practice to become better."
The Rye, N.Y., native has been a cornerstone of the Cardinal's success this season, guiding Stanford to nine regatta wins in her 14 season appearances, including a pair of national titles in the ICSA Women's Team and Women's Fleet Race Championships.
On Friday, Lahrkamp guided Stanford to become the first school to win three consecutive Women’s Fleet Race Championships since the United States Naval Academy from 1979-81.
"To become a unanimous College Sailor of the Year, you have to be dominant, said assistant coach Shawn Harvey. "Her insatiable hunger for learning has put her in this position to have one of the most dominant seasons in college sailing history. She’s been the ultimate teammate, off the water supporting her other teammates, and on the water making them better sailors. She deserves every bit of this."
In just three seasons on The Farm, Lahrkamp has become one of the most decorated student-athletes in the history of the sport. The junior skipper has led Stanford to six of the program's seven national championships, including all five women's titles after the team had not won any prior to 2023.
A two-time PCCSC Women's and Open Skipper of the Year, she also helped Stanford win its first Leonard M. Fowle Memorial Trophy during the 2022-23 season, which is given to the overall top team in college sailing.
"Since day one, Vanessa has always been striving to become a better sailor," assistant coach Augie Dale added. "This award is the culmination of the hard work throughout her time here at Stanford."
Lahrkamp will have an opportunity for a third national title this season, as Stanford competes at the ICSA Open Fleet Race Championship on May 27-30.