Sydney Small, Sailor of the Month

Seahorse magazine hosts a monthly poll to recognize recent achievement, and the October 2026 winner is Sydney Small (USA). Here are the details:

Her nomination:
Small by name, maybe, but big by her recent results. Well on the way to an ILCA campaign for 2032, Small topped out the US Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship which were raced in 15-20kt breezes in Corpus Christi, Texas. Interestingly, for a junior event like this, no private coaching was permitted, all competitors instead benefiting from shared access to two US Sailing coaches who were provided for both a pre-race clinic as well as the regatta itself.

What the voters said:
And already with a big fan club; the electrons struggling to keep up. “Thrilled with your incredible accomplishments, Sydney! You’re making Texas Sailing Proud!” – Patty Hanson; “Sydney represents the absolute best of the next generation. Winning a championship where private coaching is banned shows that her success comes down to her own decision-making, mental toughness, and adaptability on the water. With eyes firmly set on 2032. Proud to cast my vote for Sydney” – Ayush Kandpal.