KU sailing club competes despite stereotypes

By Emily Muskin

Thursday, November 1, 2007

The KU sailing club is out to have fun, compete and turn around some old stereotypes.

“When most people think of sailing, they imagine wine, crackers and cheese on a big, slow boat,” Scott Dalin, Wichita senior, said. Dalin has spent the past four years on the KU sailing club doing just the opposite. He described racing as physically and mentally fast paced.

Eight racers on the 25-member coed KU sailing club compete, while the remainder of the them sail recreationally. That does not stop the racing members from being highly competitive around the nation. Last year, the team placed fourth in districts and were just several points away from qualifying for the national tournament.

This spring, the team travels to Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin and Chicago. Danielle Giampoli, Chicago junior, said the yearly trip to her hometown was always especially memorable. She said that her favorite sailing memory was when the team raced in Chicago last Thanksgiving because her family and friends were able to see her race.

At every regatta, there are various types of competitions. The races vary by size of boat and how many people are in the boat at one time. Dalin competes in several events, including the single-handed Olympic Laser class. This competition has been a part of the summer Olympics since 1996 and only requires one person in the boat at a time. Dalin said that he drew inspiration from this type of racing because the boats were built identical to one another, leaving the skill of the sailor as the only variable that differed from boat to boat. The competition is often challenging for KU because the team primarily faces southern schools that sail a longer season. But the team still manages to find a way into the top spots of its district each year.

Aside from the regattas, KU sailing club is a unique sport that creates an enjoyable venue for people of all ages and experience levels. Dalin and Giampoli sailed for the larger part of their lives, while other members experienced their first sailing lesson on Clinton Lake with the team.

“I started racing when I was five and probably won’t stop until I can’t move anymore,” Alli Jones, Bloomington, Minn., junior, said.

The team does not hold tryouts and welcomes anyone who is interested in competing in sailing or just having a good time and meeting new people. Though the sailors may not down a bottle of wine on the sailboat, the team always remembers to have fun while remaining focused on competition.

Edited by Meghan Murphy

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