Sailing

Athletic Recruits
1

Hi
My daughter is still in middle school but loves sailing. She goes to local sailing summer camps for as many weeks as I allow. How does one go about becoming good at it from a recruiting standpoint? Are there some respected training/racing programs she can enroll in? She is a very good student as well. We are in nyc.
Thank you.

2

LISOT is the best junior sailing program in the NYC area. They sail Opti’s and 420s and have sent a number of sailors to national and international competitions. They may also have a laser program. From a recruiting standpoint, the key is to compete and do well in as many big regatta’s as possible. Your daughter has several years to build up her sailing resume. Colleges primarily look at your competition record but size is also important. College sailing is primarily 420s, which have optimal skipper/crew weights based on the conditions. Smaller people seem to have more opportunities in those boats…

3

Is it better to stay in 420s than move to Laser radials?

4

also, is sailing recruiting a crowded field for girls?

5

Sailing is not an NCAA sport…sailing is governed by ICSA https://www.collegesailing.org/, which forbids sailing scholarships…the ICSA site has a recruiting guide and list of club/varsity programs. Sailing is most commonly a club, not a varsity sport.

Generally, sailing will be evaluated as an EC. With that said, some Ivies (and a few other schools) may recruit sailors, but all in all opportunities to use sailing as a hook are few and far between. Good luck.

Here are some resources:

http://www.scholarshipstats.com/sailing.html

https://sail1design.com/sailing-wont-get-you-into-college/

6

Sailing can be a hook, but only with the most competitive sailing schools. Even there, a coach generally has less than 10 potential slots and there is no scholarship money attached. Most college teams race 420s, although a few also compete in match racing and laser. You need a sailing resume that, ideally, includes a top finish at a competitive regatta (such as High School Sailing Nationals.)

Also, size may matter, as coaches are sometimes look to fill out their roster with specific weights for skipper and crew.