Two-time All-American sailor Jessie Kirkland and his St.Mary's College team-mates celebrated their school's first Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association Spring National Championship in seven years yesterday, after an enthralling final day of racing off the shores of St.Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California.

The 21-year-old Bermudian strung together two top five finishes competing in the CFJ (Cub Flying Junior) Class in the 'A' Division to keep the Seahawks on course for top honours before team-mate Micheal Menninger won the final race in the 'B' Division to clinch the division and overall title for his school.

"This is unbelievable, it's such a great feeling.

"We are now the national champions and it's really hard to take it all in. This is pretty unbelievable stuff, but I'm sure it will sink in a few days," an elated Kirkland said.

"The whole team came together and everyone did their part. It was a complete team effort and all I had to do was keep cranking out top five finishes."

Present to witness their son and his team-mates sail into Seahawks' folklore was Kirkland's proud parents, Malcolm and Martha.

"The competition was amazing," was how Kirkland's father summed it all up.

The Seahawks entered a pressure-filled final day of racing in strong currents and 18 to 25 knot westerly breezes that buffeted the fleet clinging to a seven-point cushion that eventually slipped through their fingers as nearest rivals Yale – led by 2008 Olympic sailor Thomas Barrows of the Virgin Islands – refused to go down without a fight.

"It was a very close affair between Yale and St.Mary's and a real battle in the 'A' Division where we had 18 very good boats," the reining Long Distance Comet Race champion added. Kirkland's team finished runners up in the 'A' Division.

The 2012 Olympic hopeful said he never doubted the Seahawks' ability to land the coveted overall title going into the regatta.

"We just realised that we had to step up and perform well on the day of the competition because there were a lot of teams out here that could win on any given day," he added.

"We just had to come ready to sail from day one all the way to day three, and we did just that."

Yale (199) finished 20 points behind winner St.Mary's (179) while rounding off the top three was Georgetown University (231).

"Unfortunately we didn't win, but the conditions were great and it was just fun to battle it out with such tough competitors," said Olympian Barrows, who guided Yale to 'A' Division honours.

Kirkland is due to return home tomorrow to begin preparations for the defence of his Long Distance Comet title in this year's race to be held on the June 15 National Heroes' Day Holiday.