Blog

By Airwaves Staff Writer Elizabeth Dudley

We have had the coaches point of view on what one should do if considering college sailing thanks to Maggie Lumkes article “Thinking About Sailing in College? Check out These Ten Tips Straight from College Coaches” that was posted in August.

Now it’s October.  The new freshman class is halfway into their fall season and it is starting to get cold out.  It’s probably blowing twenty knots, and the team has been sailing upwind for longer than they care to remember.  No one can feel their hands, their legs hurt, and their coach is sitting behind them yelling at them to uncross my legs, pick up their butt, and point their toes.  The thought probably in their head: Why am I doing this?

If you are a college sailor, odds are, this is a question that may come up once or twice in your four years, no matter how passionate about the sport you may be.  But you have chosen to make this commitment because of that passion.  You want to make sure you get the most out of it.

As a sailor, you get to start as freshman with a built-in niche, and one that cannot be beat.  Many people struggle to find their place when they first get to school, but you already have one in place for you.  However, that being said, do make friends that are not on the team.

No matter who you are, at some point in your four years of forty plus hours a week with the same people, you are going to need a break in the form of a different face.  As a freshman, this different face should not be the boyfriend or girlfriend that probably will not be around in a year.  Use this unique time in your life to make real friends: hang out with “the girls” or “the guys” and build the support system that you will inevitably need throughout your four years and beyond.

A great way to meet other people is to get involved with other groups and activities on campus.  College is one of those few times in your life when you have a million opportunities right at your fingertips.  Take advantage of the ones that interest you.  To truly appreciate and enjoy your largest commitment, it is nice to have other things going on in your life.

Also, unlike other college freshman, you get to come in to your new environment with and entire team of peers available to help you out with whatever you need. Ask about classes, professors, activities or groups they suggest to get involved in and how to get involved, anything you can think of.  From the sophomores to the seniors, you have easy access to people who have recently been through it all.  Take advantage of that.

Your teammates are also a great source of sailing information.  Take the upperclassmen to the dining hall on your meal plan.  No one says “No” to a free dinner.  Ask them anything and everything about sailing.  Soak up as much information from these easily accessible resources as you can, no matter how smart or skilled at sailing you think you are.  Odds are, your team is comprised of knowledgeable sailors, and your one or two coaches cannot always be there to answer every question you have or to teach you everything you need to know.  Your team is a wealth of information and is full of connections that will make you a better sailor, as long as you take advantage of it.  Your teammates will respect you more if you are open to learning.

When it comes to sailing, no one is ever perfect.  There is always something that you can improve upon; always something that you could be doing differently that will make you faster.  Everyone has a different style and the best way to find out what works for you is to try the different methods which your teammates employ everyday they go sailing.  A team is only as strong as their weakest sailor.  If the top sailors help everyone else improve, they will only get pushed further themselves.

One immediate way to improve your sailing is to hit the gym.  You are an athlete.  If your legs get tired after a bit of hiking or you are severely winded after a tacking drill with a whistle happy coach, it can all be fixed.  We are all aware of how important it is to fully understand tactics, plays, and the rules, but those are not all that sailing is comprised of.  There is a physical fitness component involved in a sailor’s success and arguably, that is the easiest component of your sailing to improve upon.  No matter what people try and tell you, sailing is not easy, but being physically fit will make it that much easier.

So, why are you doing this? Because even though others do not understand it, you love it, and no wave to the face will change that.  Sailing is a unique sport that will allow you a different college experience than most other people will have.  Consider yourself one of the lucky ones.

And just remember, the fastest boat wins the race.