As students arrive back on campus after the summer, 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 2014 ICSA College Sailing season. With our best season yet just behind us, and great things ahead, interest in race team has been overwhelming - in a good way! This fall, the NC State sailing program will host its first-ever tryouts for co-ed and women's racing teams.
Too legit to sit. NC State sailors get the boathouse cleaned up and ready for the fall season.
"We are excited to welcome familiar faces back to Raleigh and psyched to meet new sailors who want to be a part of the SailPack," said senior skipper and race team captain David Rogers (Mt. Pleasant, SC). "All of our seniors have stepped up to make it happen," he continued.
Race team tryouts will be held on Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st to be held 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.
Clean boats are fast boats.
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 going green this season!) 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 22, 2:30 pm – 6 pm
Sunday, August 24, 10 am – 5 pm
Wednesday, August 27, 2:30 pm – 6 pm
Friday, August 29, 2:30 pm – 6 pm
Classroom Information Session:
Thursday, August 28, 6:30PM (Carmichael, Room 2037)
"We are historically a teaching program and we're sustaining that legacy while also formalizing the racing elements of the team. Our seniors leaders are hosting several on-water sessions to give new sailors the basics of what they'll need to make the team," said NC State head coach Dana Magliola. "For some it will be dusting off cobwebs, and others will be learning new skills relevant to college sailing. Hopefully they'll have a chance to show what they've learned or tuned up at tryouts - and then in regattas representing NC State."
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, 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, will also host a social event for all students who participate in tryouts on Sunday evening.
"This will be a big step for our team and will set an ambitious tone for the hard work ahead as we work to improve on last season and take another step at developing NC State sailing as a nationally competitive program," said Magliola.
For more information, email us or see below. Here's additional information about Sailing Team tryouts:
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
Videos:
NC State Sailing Chalk Talk I
NC State Sailing Chalk Talk II
US Sailing’s College Sailing Chalk Talk
Misc.:
