Salve Sailing Team Sails to Success

By: Vita Duva
Posted In: Sports

Fearlessly plunging into his eighth year as head coach of Salve Regina University’s Sailing Program, John Ingalls believes that if one is to succeed in sailing, then one will succeed in life. Undoubtedly his message is one that has also been adapted by his triumphant Salve sailors. At the conclusion of last year’s fall season, Ingalls and assistant, Michael Komar, brought the Seahawks to a new height of success – the team was ranked as high as 11th in the country.

Hence, the team goal this year is ultimately making it to the national championship and things are already looking more than promising for Salve’s devoted co-ed sailing team. So far, the Seahawks have placed second in the Eckerd Intersectional in South Florida, third in the Mendelblatt Team Race Regatta in St. Petersburg, Florida, and performed quite competitively at the Trux Regatta at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

“I’m proud of what we have accomplished, and I’m excited to reach our next goal,” Coach Ingalls said as the team gears up to battle their Division I rivals next week at the first round of national qualifiers.

The team’s strengths this year include both really good boat-speed and boat handling. Only with four graduating seniors this up-and-coming spring, the sailing team is also deep in a roster full of capable, young talent.

“Another strength is the devoted and experienced coaching staff,” added sailor Matthew Schon, a junior, who has a close relationship with Coach Ingalls. “The team is where it is because of John and Mike.” Schon has been sailing the seas ever since he could remember, considering his entire family is involved in competitive sailing. Spending his summers on the water at the Metedeconk River Yacht Club, in Brick, N.J., he began competing on a local circuit. Later on, Schon broadened his horizons, competing at both national and international levels.

However, this soon-to-be graduate’s career in sailing is far from close to over. Schon is also a part of a Lightening Team, which is based out of New Jersey. The team is raising the bar for professional sailing, as they first turned heads placing fourth at the Pan-American Qualifiers in Tampa, Florida. This July, Schon and his team will be competing at the world championship in Bouzios, Brazil.

Needless to say, Schon has his hands full, but he will never forget his Salve sailing family.

“I have been a part of the sailing team since day one,” Schon said. “I was not recruited to sail here, but I knew this was the right place for me.” As the only co-ed sport on campus, the team comradery and overall atmosphere makes being part of the team a worthwhile experience.

“Sailing is one of those sports where women and men can compete as equals, and can also team up to capitalize on individual strengths to create an overall stronger team,” said Coach Ingalls. “We are not all men, we are not all women; we’re one big family.”