Casco Bay might seem to most an attraction best enjoyed from the dry, paved confines of the East End walking path, but for a few hardy Huskies, the frigid waters off Portland are as much of a battleground today as they were during the Revolutionary War. The USM Sailing team, a club-level sports that has been in existence since 1995 as part of a partnership with Portland based non-profit SailMaine, offers USM students of all ability levels the chance to learn to sail, or compete against some of the nation’s best collegiate sailing programs across New England.
We crashed last Friday’s practice to talk with team captain Ben Converse, coach Chris Bergey, and SailMaine’s Sailing Master Jeff Cumming to learn a little more about the saltier side of USM athletics.
FP: So, you did not have enough people show up this afternoon to practice, what do you think accounts for this lack of participation in such a unique and exciting sport?
Ben Converse: I want to be sailing today, it’s perfect weather, but I think most people just don’t have time, or are limited in how much they can really participate. Also, most people do not know what our schedule is when they sign up for classes, even though it’s been pretty consistent the last few semesters.
FP: What would you say in unique about sailing in Maine or New England?
Chris Bergey: Rocks, and shifty winds. If you tell people you sail up here, they will take you anywhere. We live in some of the best sailing waters in the country, that’s why most of the best college sailing programs in the country are located in the Mid-Atlantic and up.
FP: How do the ‘Sailing Huskies’ stack up against the competition in the NEISA?
BC: A lot of the teams we compete against have 25 sailors (the USM team has 3-6 consistent members), so the competition can be a little steep.
CB: But there are no divisions in sailing, so you can be going up against some of the best teams in the country – Tufts best sailors for example – whereas the USM hockey team will never have to play Vermont or Orono.
BC: It’s cool that you get to see where you stack up against the best schools in the country.
FP: What sort of experience would you prefer potential sailors to have before they come out for the team?
BC: We prefer some sailing ability, or basic knowledge, but we take people that start with nothing. That is just the nature of the team; we do a lot of teaching.
FP: What would you like to say to any USMers out there who might be on the fence about getting involved?
BC: All you need is confidence. We are careful to pair inexperienced people with the more experienced sailors.
Jeff Cumming: We will teach you how to sail for free, and you can decide for yourself if you like it or not. The majority who come out for the team love it, college sailing is the best sailing arrangement in the whole world. There are also three or four USM grads who make their living in professional sailing.
CB: We live in some of the best sailing waters in the country.
FP: Lastly here guys, what gear do potential sailors need to provide if they are thinking of dropping in on a practice?
BC: The activity fee covers transportation, food during races, and weather gear. I would recommend close-toed shoes, shorts or a swimsuit, and sunglasses to cut down on glare. Other than that, all you need is confidence.
Interested in getting involved in USM Sailing? Contact Ben Converse at 717-873-5003, or via Facebook.