Passion: Tradition Drives the 2008 Sailing Team

By: Allison Staab
Posted In: Sports

Following in the Salve tradition of successful sailing teams, the members of this year’s 2008-2009 squad have their eyes on the prize. After teaming up with Brown University and The New York Yacht club to co-host The Intercollegiate Women’s Team Racing and Coed Sailing Nationals this summer, junior captain Torey Pellegrini says that participating in the Nationals next year is this season’s primary goal.

“We want to get into nationals. The team has never gone, and we’ve only been ranked top twenty in the country once,” Pellegrini said. “But it was a good experience not to sail in it my first time being there. I could watch and see how everything works and get comfortable with the competition. I actually learned a lot.”

Pellegrini has been a three-year member of the Seahawk sailing team and is joined on the water this season by his brother Peter. “He’s outstanding,” head coach John Ingalls said of the freshman. “At practice we can see that he’s really going to come through for us.”

Ingalls believes that the combination of new and returning talent will guide the Seahawks through another gratifying season.

The fall season is not quite as intense as the spring season for sailing, but there are still some major regattas like one in Chicago, I.L. which the Seahawks will participate in over Thanksgiving break.

With just one division for colleges and universities of all sizes, the sailing community sets itself apart from that of other sports. “The sailing community is a lot closer knit because it isn’t as large as say, the football community,” Pellegrini said.

Former Seahawk captain Michael Komar is now acting as assistant coach.

“The transition has been a lot easier then I thought,” Komar said of his new role. “It’s a great new perspective. I miss sailing a lot and the relationships on the team, but it’s good being so close to the kids.”

Ingalls agrees that the transition from teammate to coach has been a smooth one for Komar. “I was worried, but I have been so pleasantly surprised at the maturity of the team members,” Ingalls said. ” It has just been phenomenal. They like him as a person and a coach. I’m watching them take in what he’s saying and apply it,” said Ingalls.

Komar believes that things for this year’s team look better than ever. “I think the team is right on the verge of taking some pretty big steps,” Komar said. He thinks that sailing adds a little flare to Salve Regina.

“It’s a unique sport,” Komar said. “A lot of schools don’t have sailing, but if you look at all the Ivy Leagues, they have it, and they take a lot of pride in that. It makes them who they are and it’s good that Salve is right there.”

The commitment to sailing is also more consuming than some other sports with three-hour practices that take place off campus, the team practices at Fort Adams off Ocean Drive, and multiple regattas every weekend.

Komar thinks that the level of dedication required to commit to sailing leads his athletes to be independent and responsible. “Most of the athletes have been sailing since they were young, and they’re getting a boat that costs as much as a car so they learn responsibility,” Komar said. “When they’re out on the water, they’re in the boat alone. They have to make their own decisions.”