Fair Blows the wind for team

   Rigging boats, fighting the wind, and traveling almost every weekend to compete are all things that are second nature to the Wando Sailing Team. 

The Wando Sailing Team is composed of many individuals including, Madeleine Harris, Langdon Wallace, Noah Lewis, and Coach Ryan Davidson. 

Sophomore Madeleine Harris is one of the captains for the team. Her love for sailing started when she was really young.

“I started sailing when I was five because my dad made me, then I ended up liking it. I always knew that there was a Wando team and I was like, ‘ok I’ll try out’,” Harris said. 

Sailing for Harris was a given because of her family background and where she lived.

 “It runs in the family. My dad’s dad did it,” Harris said. “My dad was like, I raced these competitively and I want my daughters to do it too. I lived in Dubai and was right next to a big yacht club so it was convenient.”

Being located on the coast helped create a jump start on her sailing career.Two years ago Harris experienced a different tryout than usual.

“There was a shortage of people. We kind of just showed up. It wasn’t really super strict like it usually is. If you could sail and you wouldn’t freak out if the boat flips,” Harris said. 

Harris became one of the team captains and accepted all her new responsibilities. Knowing the expectations, Harris leads with an example. 

 “I know that I’m going to have to organize a lot of races. My parents are the team parents, and I know that I’m going to make sure that everyones there to practice on time,”Harris said. “Some people don’t check their email so I have to make sure everyone knows what’s going on, make sure they have the right gear planned out, make sure they have the right strategies.”

Langdon Wallace is a four year returning athlete and recently became the second team captain alongside Harris. 

Like Harris, Wallace also started sailing at a very young age. 

 “When I was three I went out on a racing boat, then when I was seven I started racing,” Wallace said. 

Wallace knew about the team during his freshman year and decided to join. Unlike Harris, his tryout process was more strict. 

“We went there after school and you got assigned with you and someone else who was new and we go out there and race the people who are already on the team and then the coaches would watch. Afterwards the returners would get with the coaches and decide who should be on the team and come back,” Wallace said.

Once Wallace became captain, he developed his leadership style in order to create success for the team.

“I think I’m a little more relaxed with people, not so uptight. I’ll do something and expect them to just copy that. I don’t tell them what to do or anything, like a lead by example kind of thing,” Wallace said.

The Wando Sailing Team, under the direction of Ryan Davidson, has experienced success. 

“I had a friend, an alumni from college that was coaching the team, he moved away, so they needed a replacement,” Davidson said. 

Like Harris and Wallace, The College of Charleston Alumni, Davidson has been sailing since he was little. 

“My family has done it since they were kids, growing up they put me in sailing, then I did high school sailing,” Davidson said. 

Once this season started, Davidson adapted his coaching style.

“I think it depends on who’s on the team. This year we have a lot of newer sailors so it’s more teaching in that sense instead of critiquing. I think as the year goes we are able to fine tune skills. Early fall is spent on getting everyone up to speed on the basics,” Davidson said. 

There are many misconceptions when it comes to sailing, it’s not all fun and games.

 “I guess people think it’s laid back. People think, ‘oh ok my grandfather did that when he retired, It’s pretty chill’, it’s not. When the wind picks up, you can go completely into survival mode,” Harris said. “It’s extremely competitive, you have to be extremely aggressive, there’s a ton of strategy involved in it, and strength and training that goes into it. It’s really difficult. It’s also super fun, and people don’t understand that.”