New Trier sailing team qualifies for Atlantic Coast Championship

UPDATED Oct. 13: The New Trier Varsity Sailing Team just returned home from the largest regatta ever held in the state of Minnesota, having placed in the top 3. This allowed the team to qualify for a National Championship called “Atlantic Coast Championship” to be held in Oceanport, New Jersey, on Nov 8-9. Top High School sailing teams from around the country’s different districts will compete.

New Trier Sailing Team Competes at Autumn Classic Regatta at Belmont Harbor

CHICAGO, October 2, 2014 –

On a postcard perfect weekend 20 high school sailing teams with more than 100 sailors from Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin and the Chicagoland area converged on the lakefront at the Chicago Yacht Club at Belmont Harbor to compete in the Autumn Classic Regatta on September 27th and 28th. Minnetonka High School from Minnesota was the overall winner, with teams from New Trier and Loyola placing third and fourth; and the Latin School of Chicago, Lake Forest High School and St. Ignatius College Prep placing teams in the top 10 finishers. Other Chicago area teams include Hinsdale Central, Walter Payton, University of Chicago Lab Schools, and Evanston Township high schools. This regatta was a qualifier for the Great Lakes Championship and six teams qualified.

A special feature of this regatta was the parent open house. Over 50 parents came out to watch the regatta with spectator boats organized by several local parents. While most parents expect to watch their kids participate in sports, in sailing, it is difficult to view the sport up close. For many parents, this was the first time on the water watching their child compete. Bobby Collins, coach at the Chicago Yacht Club noted, “We had a great weekend for the Chicago Yacht Club to host the Autumn Classic Regatta and we were thrilled to see so many parents come out and get an up close view of what happens on the water for these kids. For many parents this was the first time they had been able to get a view from this vantage. There are still about 6 more weeks of on the water high school sailing this fall. It’s a great time for kids of all ages to come to the Chicago Yacht Club and see what high school sailing is about and learn more about participating in the future.”

Competing schools included: New Trier: Loyola Academy; Evanston High School; St. Ignatius College Prep; Culver Academies; Hinsdale Central. Competitors from New Trier: Eamonn Austin (Sr), Wilson Blomberg (Sr), Charlie Clarke (Sr), Bailey Cornog (Sr), Alex Fowkes (Jr), Audrey Jacobs (Sr), Christian Koules (Sr), Katie Lowenbaum (So), Caroline O’Malley (So), Colin Richards (Sr), Michael Rivkin (So), Sarah Wright (Sr).

About Chicago-area High School Sailing

Schools compete in regattas in both team racing fleet racing formats, mostly in doublehanded dinghies. School teams are co-ed, and the competitions are in both the fall and spring seasons. District qualifier regattas are held for three distinct National Championships, including the Baker Trophy for team racing which will be hosted by Chicago Yacht Club in May 2015. Many high school sailors go on to compete in college at a national level.

About Chicago Yacht Club

Since 1875 the Chicago Yacht Club has been building a tradition of friendship, fun, and a shared passion for the pursuit of yachting excellence. Chicago Yacht Club sponsors 6 high school sailing teams out of its Community Sailing Center in Belmont Harbor. The Club provides the boats, the equipment, the coaches and the shore facilities for approximately 115 high school sailors in both Fall and Spring.