The Barometer Online

Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Contributed Art Members of the OSU sailing

While many other Oregon State attendees are likely to spend their weekends lounging in the general Corvallis area, members of the OSU sailing team are usually not as easily located as their counterparts. For these club sport members, an estimated 20 weekends out of the school year are spent traveling to more exotic locales for intense two-day sailing competitions commonly referred to as regattas.

In this year alone, the sailing team has already traversed the entire length of the west coast and made an appearance in Hawaii for a January competition.

With fall and spring deemed the prime times for this sport, team members have resumed regular practice routines in preparation for their multiple upcoming events.

In addition to upping their practice schedules, the team has begun an open membership drive and will be holding a general information meeting today in the Dixon lower classroom at 8 p.m. for all interested parties.

Chris Brown, a fourth year geography student and current Commodore, or president of the sailing club, stresses that experience is not necessary criteria for team membership.

"We are very beginner friendly. A number of people have joined the team with little or no sailing experience, and within weeks, they are competing well in regattas," Brown said.

A sailing team member for four years, Brown held the position of vice commodore from fall 2005 to fall 2007 before assuming his current role as president. Brown recalls his experiences within the club as extremely positive, and he encourages students to come hear what they're all about.

Jessica Kraemer, an animal sciences major, has been involved with the sailing team since her freshman year in fall 2006. She currently performs some of the team's treasury duties in addition to secretarial contributions. Kraemer believes several upcoming regattas are particularly notable for the team, including one that will be held by the University of Victoria in British Columbia.

"This [the British Columbia regatta] is a new one, and so everyone is excited to see how it will go," Kraemer said.

Last weekend's competition went well for the team, according to Kraemer. Despite Saturday's windy conditions, Sunday turned out great.

"The Sunday conditions were perfect, and everyone got a little color to show for their exciting weekend in the Gorge," Kraemer said.

Brown alluded to other upcoming events for the team, noting that the team has plans to sail "…in Portland and in the Columbia River Gorge" among other locations.

Lisa Riordan, staff writer

news@dailybarometer, 737-2231

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