Nicole Breault

Nicole Breault, born on April 19, 1972, in Old Lyme, Connecticut, began her sailing career at the age of two, growing up with the sport in Niantic Bay. By age seven, she joined the Niantic Bay Yacht Club and soon competed in the International 420 class, where she achieved two national championship wins. Her early accomplishments continued through high school, where she was valedictorian, an all-state soccer selection, and captained her sailing team to a state championship. Breault continued her sailing journey at Yale University, graduating in 1994, and was recognized as a Women’s All-American sailor during her sophomore year, along with receiving Honorable Mention for Coed All-American in 1993 and 1994. After college, she briefly taught history and coached soccer at Old Lyme High School before fully dedicating herself to competitive sailing.

Breault established herself as a prominent figure in women’s match racing, securing five wins of the Allegra Mertz Trophy at the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship (2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2025), making her the most successful woman in the championship’s history. Her victories often involved undefeated runs, demonstrating consistent dominance in the sport. Notably, in 2025, she and her Vela Racing team, comprising Molly Vandemoer, McKenzie Wilson, and Hailey Thompson, won the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship on San Francisco Bay. This win was secured against Lindsey Baab’s team in challenging conditions, leading them to represent the U.S. at the Women’s Match Racing World Championship. Beyond national titles, Breault has achieved significant international success, including winning the 2015 Mayor’s Cup ISAF Grade 3 Women’s Match Race and a gold medal at the 2015 ISAF Nation’s Cup Grand Final Women’s Division in Vladivostok, Russia.

Her reputation extends beyond competition; Breault is recognized for her dedication to fostering the next generation of sailors. She actively coaches and volunteers at the St. Francis Yacht Club, where she previously launched a Learn-to-Sail program for women. Her contributions to the sport were recognized in 2017 when she became the first woman to receive the St. Francis Yacht Club’s Jerome B. White Yachtsman of the Year award. As of April 2021, she held the top ranking for women’s match racing in the United States and was ranked third globally. Breault’s career highlights also include being shortlisted for the United States’ Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year in 2019 and the US Sailor of the Year Awards in 2022, underscoring her enduring impact and excellence in sailing.