Welcome to our High School Sailing Spotlight series. In this series, we highlight sailing programs from across the country that compete in the Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA). From programs with long-standing competitive traditions to emerging teams, each profile takes a closer look at the schools and provides key information about their sailing programs. You can find ISSA regatta results on the HS Sailing TechScore.
Located in Middletown, Rhode Island, St. George’s School sails on the waters of Newport Harbor, practicing out of Fort Adams State Park. St. George’s is an independent coeducational boarding and day school serving students in grades 9 through 12 and offering a college-preparatory academic program.
St. George’s maintains one of the oldest high school sailing programs in the United States. The sailing team trains in the school’s fleet of FJs and Z420s and competes in both the fall and spring season.
The team competes within the NESSA (New England Conference), the regional conference of the Interscholastic Sailing Association that oversees scholastic sailing across New England. Like most programs in the region, St. George’s competes in both the fall and spring scholastic sailing seasons.
According to head coach Ben Greenfield, the program places a strong emphasis on building a competitive but collaborative team environment. Practices are designed to push sailors to improve alongside one another, often creating a level of intensity that mirrors or exceeds regatta conditions. As Greenfield explains, “the best way to get really good at a sport is to play with, and against, those who are better than you,” a philosophy reflected in a team culture that encourages sailors to compete daily while supporting each other’s development.
For sailors and families preparing to enter the world of high school sailing, Greenfield emphasizes the importance of adaptability. While many skills from other sailing backgrounds translate well, the short-course nature of scholastic racing often requires adjustment. He notes that the most successful sailors are those who are able to recognize which of their existing skills apply and where they may need to improve in order to meet the demands of high school competition.
Over the years, the team has consistently competed at the highest levels of scholastic sailing, qualifying for national championship events and maintaining a strong presence in New England competition.
Selected Recent Results (as of posting in 2026)
- 7th — 2025 Mallory Trophy
- 4th — 2025 Baker Trophy
- 3rd — 2025 NESSA Fleet Racing Championship (O’Day Trophy)
- 3rd — 2024 Mallory Trophy
- 3rd — 2024 Baker Trophy
- 3rd — 2024 NESSA Girls District Championship
- 3rd — 2023 Mallory Trophy
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