Stamford Schools Sailing Team Ends Season With Two First Place Wins

STAMFORD, Conn. -- The Stamford Schools sailing team concluded its season in May, with two first place finishes in both the Silver and Gold Cup Regattas.

The CT State Championship Regatta at the Coast Guard Academy in New London.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Cassandra Huerta

07/28/2015 10:30 a.m.

The team, which is supported by Stamford Yacht Club, comprises sailors from the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering (AITE), Stamford High School (SHS), Westhill High School (WHS), Rogers International School, King, and Stanwich. Sailing from the Greenwich Boat and Yacht Club on Grass Island, the team finished the day of competition with 10 wins and no losses.

“I am very pleased with our finish at the Gold Cup,” said SHS graduate Charlotte LeClue, a veteran of international racing in three different boat classes. “It’s the first time we won the whole thing. The result made me really proud of the team and all that we’ve accomplished.

Unlike fleet racing, where boats are scored individually, high school racing is a team sport. Several boats from each team enter the race and the scores are combined to determine the team score.

This year, the team was led by coach Nicky Souter, a world champion and a six-time Australian National Champion Match Racer. Overall, the Stamford Schools Team finished the season with six wins and eight losses in the regular Fairfield County Sailing League.

At the Connecticut State Championships held at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, veteran sailors in the “A” Division placed fourth, while the entire team placed twelfth out of 20 schools. Looking ahead to next season, program administrator Kerry LeClue hopes to expand the team.

“Our top two Skippers are college bound but we’re looking forward to welcoming our talented, incoming freshmen," said LeClue.

Sailing team members include Chelsea Campana, SHS Gus Doricko, SHS Alex Gardner, Stanwich Ben Jachimczyk, SHS Daniel Lapinski, AITE Charlotte LeClue, SHS Garrick LeClue, AITE Becky Lowe, WHS Jonathan Richter, King Andrew Savage, King Victoria Slater, Stanwich Karol Suchowiecki, SHS Julia Zaleski, SHS Patrick Zaleski from Rogers.

For more information about joining the team and to inquire about possible sponsorship opportunities, please contact LeClue at stamfordschoolssailing@gmail.com.

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