Fall sailing club wins regattas through communication

The sailing club has managed to have an enjoyable (and successful) season, qualifying for regionals in Chicago this fall.

In contrast to how other sports compete, the club goes to regattas, which are sailing events made up of separate races. Each race has multiple teams competing in it, and doing well in the races helps a school do better in the regatta overall.
Races can be cold and frustrating at times, but also serve as great team bonding opportunities.

Rower Evan Holmes enjoys the collaborative aspects of sailing most of all.
“Verbal and non-verbal communication is essential [in sailing], and as a result, you have to be pretty close with who you’re sailing with,” Holmes said.

During a particularly windy practice, Holmes recalled finding retroactive joy in the way he worked together with his teammate after their boat capsized: “Having to right the boat upwards, while hyperventilating from the cold, was definitely not enjoyable at the time, but convinced me that Paul [my teammate] and I could work quickly and effectively together in difficult situations… it also felt great sitting in front of the heater back on shore.”

Although in years past the club has struggled with membership, team captain Wyatt Tait said that there have been more sailors recently.

“We… now have a few middle schoolers on the team, which gives me hope for longevity after I graduate,” he said.

Tait said his favorite team memory is yet to come because he “hop[es] to prolong the season and do as many big regattas as [the team] can.”

With the Great Lakes Championship coming up in Chicago Nov. 11-13, the sailing club will have one more opportunity this fall to make some amazing memories before the season begins again in the spring.

In one word? The season has been “a whirlwind,” Holmes said.