Some sailing things to think about when choosing a college…
Bill Jorch, Airwaves Writer
Editors Note: Sail1Design would like to welcome Bill Jorch to the Airwaves team. Bill is a Georgetown grad, was a member of the sailing team there, and now lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife. We look forward to Bill’s contributions and enjoy his first piece:
As a high school sailor looking to continue sailing at the college level, the group of schools has already been narrowed. Each school’s sailing program is unique and there are many criteria to consider when making your decision. While this list is not exhaustive, I present a few items that I, and many other college sailors, scrutinized when analyzing collegiate sailing teams.
– Coaching: Many colleges have full or part time coaches to run practice and work at regattas. Knowing the coach’s commitment and the program and understanding the coach’s philosophy regarding the team will help you see where you fit in at that program.
– Team dynamic: While each team is trying to sail their best, their approaches differ. The size of the team can range from just a handful of sailors to upwards of forty. The makeup of a team can be important as well. Is the team loaded with seniors or will you be joining a large freshman class? Does the team compete at national events or regional regattas or both?
– Venue / facilities: College sailing venues vary in many ways from school to school. One factor is the proximity to campus. Many schools offer on campus water access, and those that don’t usually only require a short drive. In almost all instances where schools sail on campus they have their own facilities, while those that drive to practice usually share a marina or yacht club. Each school’s venue produces different conditions. Some offer open water while others are located on lakes and rivers. There are locations that have traditionally big breeze while others have lighter and shiftier wind.
– Climate: College sailing has two distinct seasons, fall (September – November) and spring (February – May). Schools in warmer climates can extend their seasons on both ends in more mild conditions, while the northern schools will have slightly shorter practice seasons and colder temperatures around winter. However, most schools will sail in cold weather, if not at practice then at events in the late fall or early spring.
These are just a few things to think about sailing-wise when looking at colleges. Each program has its own unique identity and it is up to you, the sailor, to choose what is best. There are some aspects of college sailing that I failed to mention that may be essential to your search. Each category has a broad spectrum of possibilities and I purposely did not endorse any one criterion over another because this is such a personal decision. I will, however, advocate for one piece of advice; visit the schools you are interested in. Take a tour of the campus, check out the sailing venue, talk with the coach, and maybe even watch a practice. This will be a great way to learn a lot about the program and determine what is important to you.
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