Team Baam USA crowned champions in Annapolis

USA’s women’s match racing team Team Baam skippered by Allie Blecher from California (crew Beka Schiff, Rose Edwards, and Ali Blumenthal Stokes) won the 2025 Santa Maria Cup today, defeating Vela Racing team skippered by Nicole Breault (crew Evan Brown Cahill, McKenzie Wilson, Julie Mitchell) 3-0 in a tense light-air final on the Severn River. The Santa Maria Cup is one of the longest running women’s match racing regattas in the USA for over 20 years, hosted by the Eastport Yacht Club and an official event of the Women’s World Match Racing Tour since 2022.

As forecast earlier in the week, there was a long wait for the breeze to arrive before the petit-final and final matches were able to take place. As the sea breeze arrived early in the afternoon, the final four matches headed to the racecourse in front of the famous U.S Naval Academy.

Defending Santa Maria Cup champions, Team Wings from Sweden skippered by Anna Östling, were keen to make amends in their petit-final match against Australian Easy Tiger Racing skippered by Juliet Costanzo. Östling and crew had a disappointing day yesterday as they were narrowly beaten by Allie Blecher and Team Baam USA in the semi-finals to miss their chance at defending their title. The Swedish team defeated the Australians 2-0 in the first-to-two points semis to secure the last podium place.

Sadly, it was also a disappointing day for Nicole Breault and the Vela Racing team in the final. Despite the challenging light-air conditions, their opponents Team Baam USA were able to find the extra boat speed to defeat Breault in three straight wins and take the Santa Maria Cup title.

“We are delighted with the win today!” said Team Baam USA’s skipper Allie Blecher. “It was super light and very stressful in each match, but I am fortunate to have a team to keep me calm and collected, and we were just able to keep our bow down and stay ahead in each race.”

“The better team won today” added Breault. “The conditions were very tricky and although we were keeping close, Allie and her team were just able to extend where it mattered, congratulations to them!”