Thursday, February 17, 2011

Getting to Know the Freshmen: Maggy Ashton

The best sailor from Edinboro, PA - Maggy Ashton!  Maggy has been a flexible contributor to the team during her first semester; she has been a skipper at the MAISA Women's and also is quickly evolving into one of the team's best crews.  We're most likely to find Maggy hiking hard or giggling during drills, and her attitude, work ethic and smile will certainly guarantee her success!

Name: Maggy Ashton

Hometown: Edinboro, PA

High School: General McLane High School

Home YC: Erie Yacht Club

Position: Skipper/Crew, but mostly crew!

Major: Maritime Ops and Technology

Favorite Boat: Any boat that I’m on! Between FJs and 420s, though, I’d choose FJs.

Previous Experience in sailing: I took lessons at the EYC for a couple summers where I learned the basics of sailing.  I also sail with my parents who have a Hunter 320.  Also, I crewed on a tall ship, Niagara, for a couple summers, too, which was awesome (but completely different from dinghies).

Other Sports/Activities: Running, skiing, swimming, biking, exploring, basically anything that’s outdoors.

Favorite Part of Sailing at Kings Point: It’s always nice to be able to relax and do something you love for a couple hours every day in addition to being around a bunch of great people :).

Sailing Goals: To become the best crew I can in the time that I have!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

First Day on the Water!

Beautiful day at Kings Point and the Dinghy Team is on the water!

Getting to Know the Freshmen: AJ Bailey

From Maine, to Colorado, and now to New Jersey - our next freshman profile is AJ Bailey.  AJ is a strong sailor and competitor on the team and really began to come into his own towards the end of the Fall season with a good finish at the KP Dinghy Open and stellar performance while tying for 2nd at the Top-Nine invitational.

Name: AJ Bailey

Hometown: Toms River, NJ
 
High School: Toms River HS South
 
Home YC: Island Heights Yacht Club, Island Heights, NJ
 
Position: Skipper
 
Major: Engineering
 
Favorite Boat: E-Scow
 
Previous Experience in sailing: Sailing since age 8; opti, laser, 420, e-scow, ensign, PHRF
 
Other Sports/Activities: Skiing
 
Favorite Part of Sailing at Kings Point: Opportunity and competing against friends

Sailing Goals: To qualify for nationals and sail an offshore ocean race

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Getting to Know the Freshmen: Marie Morrow

Continuing with our "Getting to know the Freshmen" feature - next up is Marie Morrow.  Marie has a unique background on our team - she's from Colorado and had not sailed before coming to Kings Point - however, now she's kicking butt as one of our top crews and is really excelling in the FJ.

Name: Marie Adrianna Morrow

Hometown: Aurora, Colorado
 

High School: Cherokee Trail High School
 

Position: Crew
 

Major: Logistics
 

Favorite Boat: FJ
 

Previous Experience in sailing: None
 

Other Sports/Activities: Track and Field (on KP record-setting team in the 4x200m)
 

Favorite Part of Sailing at Kings Point: All the cool opportunities to travel and compete against other schools.
 

Sailing Goals: Continue to have fun and enjoy sailing. 

Most likely concert to attend this summer: Arcade Fire/Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Monday, February 14, 2011

Getting to Know the Freshmen: Spencer Garland

As we approach the beginning of the Spring Season, we're going to begin a "getting to know the freshmen" feature.  First up, freshman Spencer Garland from Maine.

Name: Spencer Garland

Hometown: Cape Elizabeth, ME

High School: Cape Elizabeth High School

Major: Engineering

Favorite Boat: FJs, with a close 2nd being 420s

Previous Sailing Experience: 2 years of club 420 sailing, some bigger boat sailing, 1 week on an 80’ steel hulled schooner in FL, 1 week on a 50’ windjammer sloop, 1 season of spring 420 team racing, various weekend day cruising.  Unfortunately, don’t own my own boat (yet).

Other Sports/Activities: Avid outdoorsman. I have a lot of random interests that vary by season including: cycling, rock climbing, ice climbing, sea kayaking, scuba diving, Nordic skiing, surfing, mountaineering, running, hiking, and amateur photography.

Favorite Part of Sailing at Kings Point: Besides the physical act of getting out on the water every day, my favorite part is the amount of accessible experience and knowledge, both in the coaches, and the older sailors on the team.  I’m still a novice skipper, back of the pack and trying to maintain my speed and boat handling, and every day I go out and work to learn something new, or improve on something.  Having 3 fleets of dinghy’s is also an awesome treat, not many other schools have such a wide variety.  Coming from a small town in southern Maine, the view of the sun setting against the Throggs neck bridge and the skyline of the city from the water is also incredible.

Sailing Goals: To improve my skills as a sailor, to look forward to learning something every day, and to have fun while doing it.
Random Facts:

Favorite Music: Pretty much anything, but will always enjoy listening to Phish, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Steely Dan, Deadmau5, Andrew Bird, Dire Straits, U2, classic rock, and jam bands. 

Any pets?:  A mostly white Tibetan terrier named Harry with a brown head, black/brown ears and white “scar shaped tuft” that earned him the name Harry (Potter) Garland.

Favorite ice cream: Ben and Jerrys’ Half Baked.