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It's almost sailing season, so NC State Sailing is getting back on the water. With students arriving back in Raleigh, joined by new students on campus enjoying orientation, returning and veteran NC State Wolfpack sailors are already active getting the boathouse and fleet cleaned, prepped and ready to start training for the Fall 2016 ICSA College Sailing season. With sailing orientation sessions, tryouts and practices starting in late August, and our first regatta less than a month away from the start of classes, NC State Sailing hits the ground running.
"Each year seems to build momentum for our program. Last year we had record turnout and interest in our competitive race team, so we're looking forward to meeting lots of new sailors this year," said senior skipper and race team captain Matthew Dockstader (Charlotte, NC). "Our regatta schedule is especially exciting and we'll be racing in New England and the mid-Atlantic in addition to our conference."
Race team tryouts will be held on Saturday, September 3rd on campus and at Lake Wheeler where seniors and coaches will evaluate prospective sailors based on their overall boat handling skills, their competitiveness and racing acumen, their level of participation and drive, as well as overall fit with the team. Key characteristics that qualified sailors will possess include hard work, a positive attitude, commitment to team success, good sportsmanship and - of course - the ability to maintain their good grades. NC State has had sailors make the ICSA All-Academic team the past two seasons and a team GPA of over 3.4. Wolfpack sailors work and train hard.
In advance of tryouts, interested students will be given the opportunity to learn, train and get used to the boats and sailing style in several on-water sessions led by returning seniors on the team. Prospective sailors should wear appropriate clothing or bathing suits, non-marking soled shoes or dinghy boots, and sunscreen. (Sailors are also asked to bring their own refillable water bottles as the NC State sailing program is a committed 11th Hour Racing sustainable sailing program!) PFDs will be provided, but students may bring their own. Transportation to and from the lake will also be provided with pickups at Carmichael Gym 30 minutes before the listed start time.
On-water Training & Orientation Sessions:
Friday, August 26th, 2:30 pm – 6 pm (Pickup at Carmichael @ 2PM)
Saturday, August 27th - 11am (Pickup at Carmichael @ 1030AM)
Wednesday, August 31st, 2:30 pm – 6 pm (Pickup at Carmichael @ 2PM)
Friday, September 2nd, 2:30 pm – 6 pm (Pickup at Carmichael @ 2PM)
Classroom Information Session (aka 1st Sailing Club meeting):
Thursday, August 25th, 7:30PM (Carmichael, Room 2037)
TRYOUTS:
Saturday, Sept 3rd
10AM - 12PM - Carmichael Gym, classroom 2037.
1PM - 3:30PM - Lake Wheeler on the water tryouts
*** Transportation for events at the Lake will be provided. Meetup/Pickup is located at the benches in the parking lot of Carmichael Gymnasium. Rides will generally leave 30 minutes before the listed start time. To tryout, you must attend Saturday's classroom and lake session. ***
"Our seniors and returning sailors are hosting several on-water sessions to give new sailors the basics of what they'll need to make the team. Student leadership and development are cornerstones of our program and we have a legacy of over 60 years of teaching sailing so this element of tryouts is very important to us," said NC State head coach Dana Magliola. "It will be warm-ups for some, a return to dinghies for some sailors who've been racing bigger boats over the summer, and others will be learning new skills relevant to college sailing. In the end, we aim to build a strong, high-performing team, both culturally and on the water."
The primary goal of tryouts is to ensure that those sailors who are committed to race team are given the full resources available from the program to train and improve during their time competing in college sailing. With the growth and success of the co-ed squad in the past few years, as well as the development of the women's program, developing a more formal roster will be a logical next step for the sailing program. Final rosters will be announced the week following tryouts. The Sailing Club at NC State, the parent organization of our race team, also provides learning and sailing opportunities for those students interested in sailing and less-formal racing opportunities.
Prospective sailors can learn more about Sailing at NC State, as well as college sailing and racing through the following resources:
Books:
Getting Started in Sailboat Racing by Adam Court, Richard Stearns
Start to Win by Eric Twiname
Sail, Race and Win by Eric Twiname and Cathy Foster
The Tactics of Small Boat Racing by Stuart Walker
ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing
