Summer Sailing Camp for Brother Rice and McAuley Students

May 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Yes, Brother Rice does have a sailing team!   In fact, it is co-ed and teamed up with our sister school Mother McAuley. Columbia Yacht Club, the sponsor for the Brother Rice – Mother McAuley Sailing team, will begin its summer sailing program June 11 with sessions running through August 17th.  Because we are sponsored team, Columbia offers to Rice-McAuley students (including incoming freshmen) member rates for the sailing programs.

Columbia offers a wide range of programs including beginning through advanced sailing education.  Students learn basic sailing/seamanship and safety through advanced levels of sailing and racing depending on skills and experience.  Time is split between classroom theory and on-the-water practice.  The program is run in 2 to 3 week sessions and, as well, an entire summer program is available at a deeply discounted rate.  Sailing begins at 9 AM and runs through 5 PM Monday through Friday.  Depending on skill level, students may be able to compete in summer regattas (racing events) on the weekends.

Four of our team members took advantage of the full summer program last year and the progress that they achieved with this intensive program in their sailing abilities was incredible

Although in its beginning years, our Crusaders have moved up into the middle of the pack in Midwestern Interscholastic High School Sailing (MISSA) and have already competed in the Junior 420 Nationals, the Great Oaks National High School Regatta, and in 3 Junior Olympics competitions.  We have traveled throughout the Midwest and ‘out of our zone’ to Miami and New Orleans to represent our schools.  We are growing as a team and would love to see the team continue to become more competitive in this rapidly growing sport.  (The growth of MISSA has been a blockbuster now including over 55 teams including Loyola Academy and St. Ignatius Prep from our conference.)

The summer sailing program offers students who may have an interest in sailing or considering becoming part of the sailing team a chance to experience what this sport is all about.

Information about the Brother Rice – Mother McAuley sailing team is available on the Brother Rice web page at: www.athletics.brotherrice.org  under ‘sailing’.

Kate Mullane, BR parent advisor for the sailing team, is available to answer questions regarding the Rice – McAuley program at katee.mullane [at] gmail [dot] com.

Information and registration forms for the Columbia summer sailing program are available on the Columbia website under ‘sailing school’ at: www.columbiayachtclub.org.

Filed Under: Athletics, Crusader Clips, More Brother Rice Athletics News, Sailing, Sailing News

Detroit: “The Windy City” for BR/MAC Sailing

April 26, 2012 By 1 Comment

Brother Rice-Mother McAuley sailors fought high winds (15-24 nts.) and cold water (42F) competing in the Midwest Mallory Cup Qualifier onLake St. Claire in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. The event was hosted by the Grosse Point Yacht Club.

The Mallory Trophy is high school sailing’s oldest trophy. It was selected and presented to the Interscholastic Sailing in 1930 by Clifford Mallory, the President of US SAILING. The early competitions were in Atlantic-class sloops, but in recent years, the competition for the ISSA Nationals has been in double handed dinghies.

Twenty high schools competed in the regatta with New Trier placing first, Lake Forest High School second and Minnetonka, Mn. Placing third. New Trier and Lake Forest Academy will represent the 55 Midwest Interscholastic Sailing Association teams in Seattle, Washington. Best finishes for the Crusaders were an eleventh and two fourteenths. Overall the Crusaders A division team comprised of Anthony Curbis (crew), Russ Mullane (skipper), Brendan Rathbone-Desch (skipper), and Bryan Stajura (crew) placed 11th. The Mighty Mac ladies team of Diana Sanchez (skipper) and Monica Sachnoff had best finishes of a twelfth and fifteenth. Combined, the Rice-McAuley team placed 17th.

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Filed Under: Articles of Interest, Athletics, Crusader Clips, More Brother Rice Athletics News, Sailing, Sailing News, Students

The “MICE” Host Sailing Open House

March 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Brother Rice/Mother McAuley sailing team and the Columbia Yacht Club will co-host an open house on Saturday, March 31, starting at 1:00 PM.  Sailing master Kurt Thomsen, who has lovingly dubbed the team “the MICE,” will be on hand to discuss the program with parents and students interested in joining the team.  Hors d’oeurves and refreshments will be served as Mr. Thomsen answers questions about sailing and our Brother Rice/Mother McAuley team. Students will be having an on the water practice so that you can see the rapid progress of our “fledgling newbies.”

New sailors will also be able to watch the “MICE” in action as they participate in the Ice Breaker Regatta. This is an in-harbor regatta, which means the racing action is easily viewed by spectators.  This event is a great opportunity for interested students to learn about competitive sailing.

Coach Frank, considered one of the premier coaches in the country, will be coaching the MICE at the Ice Breaker.  Frank has coached Stanford and the National Sailing Team. Coach Frank will be working with the team this spring, an awesome opportunity to for the Crusaders and Macs to pick up new techniques and sharpen old ones.

On April 14-15, the sailing team will compete in their first team racing event, which is a bit of a different venue from fleet racing.  The team will have 3 boats competing together, manned by at least 6 sailors.

The “MICE” plan to “sail hard” out there this weekend, and they welcome all Brother Rice and Mother McAuley students to consider joining the team.  For more information about the sailing club, contact Dr. Leslie Luxem.

Filed Under: Athletics, Crusader Clips, Sailing, Sailing News, Students

Sailing Takes Fifth at Culver Great Oaks Regatta

October 11, 2011 By

Brother Rice-Mother McAuley sailed to a team best, taking home an overall fifth place of the seventeen teams, and Russ Mullane brought home a third place trophy sailing in the full rig laser class.

The Brother Rice-Mother McAuley Sailing Team competed in the Great Oaks Qualifier Regatta held on Lake Maxicuckie at the Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana, on October 8 and 9.   Seventeen A/B teams with 34 crews competed for a first or second place finish, which would win the two person crews the opportunity to participate in the 2011 Great Oaks Regatta.  The Great Oaks is the National High School 420 sailing championships, which will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 18 and19. Brother Rice-Mother McAuley fielded a single A/B team.  The sailors on the A crew were Crusaders Anthony Curbis, Zack Pakula and Brendan Rathbone-Desch.  The B team was made up of Mighty Macs Caroline Janecki, Monica Sachnoff and Diana Sanchez.  The Rice-McAuley sailors pulled off a team best Varsity competition finish with outstanding performances by all, taking home an overall 5th place of the 17 teams.  Our Columbia Yacht Club Sailing School co-training team from Walter Peyton’s A team with sailors Wade Wagner and Peter Bied will be making their way to Louisiana in November after a strong second place finish.

Russ Mullane competed in the Laser class competition, finishing third of eleven overall laser competitors and third of seven full-rig boats.  The Laser class is made up of two divisions.  The full-rig Laser sailboat has a taller sail and requires more skill and strength to control.  The Laser radial has a smaller sail and is quicker and easier to maneuver.  This was a best Varsity finish for Mullane in his third laser competition.

Highlights for the competitions included a best second place race for team Monica Sachnoff-Diana Sanchez.  The hard work and commitment by the team during the summer sailing program at Columbia and throughout the fall season by these two athletes paid off with this outstanding performance.  Team Caroline Janecki-Monica Sachnoff had a best fourth place finish. Team Anthony Kurbis-Zack Pakula had a best performance of a third and team Zack Pakula-Brendan Rathbone-Desh matched this best with another third place finish.  Russ Mullane broke into a first place performance for his best race of the regatta.

The facilities at Culver were outstanding and the Academies were incredible hosts. The Culver Sailing Team hosted a lakeside party and bonfire for all of the regatta participants. Prior to our homeward departure on Sunday the teams were entertained by the Culver Dress Parade of the nationally renowned Black Horse Troop, marching band, and cadets in full dress uniforms and the artillery.

Filed Under: Athletics, Crusader Clips, Events, Sailing, Sailing News, Students

Sailing Opens Fall Season with the Kick Off Regatta

September 14, 2011 By

The Brother Rice – Mother McAuley Sailing Team opened the fall regatta campaign with the Kick Off Classic at Sheridan Shores in Winnetka September 10-11.  This is the beginning of the third fall season for Brother Rice and constitutes the first fall season for the Mighty Mac sailors.  The team was represented by Caroline Janecki (13), Zack Pakula (14), Brendan Rathbone-Desch (12), Monica Sachnoff (12), and Diana Sanchez (14), who manned the 420 double handed boats, and Russ Mullane (13) in the Laser single-handed rig.  This was the first full sailing team (constituted by two teams for the 420 rigs and one Laser sailor) that Rice-McAuley has been able to bring to high school competitions.

While the rain never showed up and the air temperature was gorgeous for the spectators, sailing conditions were difficult because the forecasts were for winds out of the northeast – a call that never happened.  Saturday morning brought no wind, and the competition was delayed for two hours.  The winds then came out of the southwest, making placement of the race course a difficult scramble for the race committee.  On Sunday, the winds shifted a full 180 degrees in the middle of a race, leaving more than a few boats capsized in its wake.  The Rice-McAuley sailors, however, prevailed and brought home their best varsity finish as a team, placing 17th of 23 teams.  Russ Mullane, in his first ever Laser competition, placed fifth in Laser Full Rig fleet.  Coach Stuart McSweeney was pleased with his teams overall performance and is encouraged with the steady progression of our sailors.  Accomplishments for last year’s Kick Off Regatta’s competition was being able to finish every race.  The team is now progressing to be solidly in mid-fleet in competitions.   The team’s goals are now aimed towards improving tactical moves in sailing competitions.

Next up is the Cressy National Qualifying competition for Laser single handed rigs on September 24-25th at Belmont Harbor.  The Cressy Regatta is the High School national championships.  The United States is divided into zones by U.S. Interscholastic Sailing, and the Midwest Zone qualifiers will be held at Chicago Yacht Club, Belmont Station, this year.  The Cressy will take place in New Orleans in November.  The next team competition with be the Talbot Regatta again at Belmont on October 1 and 2.  The full schedule of events is available on the Brother Rice fall athletics site.

Interested students are welcome to check out Rice-McAuley sailing. Students may contact Dr. Luxem at Brother Rice or Mrs. Jackiw at Mother McAuley for information.  Information about team and club sailing is available on the Brother Rice athletics website.

 

Filed Under: Athletics, Brother Rice Exclusives, Crusader Clips, Sailing, Sailing News, Students

Crusader Sailing Kicks off Season in Style

August 19, 2011 By
Russ Mullane and Diana Sanchez competed in the 420 division of the Junior Olympics held in Grosse Pointe Shores August 12-14 representing the Columbia Sailing School Race Team. Competitors from across the US competed in the event.A sailing clinic with Senior Olympians as lecturers was held on August 12th.  Lectures were followed by on the water education sessions.  The 420 clinic was run by Hunter Ratliff who won the United States Championships this season and is vying for a spot on the US Sailing Team for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Best finishes for the team of Mullane/Sanchez were a 5th and 7th.  Overall they placed 16th.  Diana has only been sailing since this past spring’s high school season and Russ for 2 years.  These competitions should help bolster our fall sailing team for the high school season.

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Filed Under: Articles of Interest, Athletics, Crusader Clips, Sailing, Sailing News

Sailing Takes Third Place at the Rickover Regatta

May 24, 2011 By

The Brother Rice/Mother McAuley Sailing team had an opportunity to take advantage of the beautiful Sunday morning.  They competed in the Rickover Regatta hosted by Chicago Yacht Club.  Two New Trier teams competed in the regatta and came in first and second place.  Zack Pakula and Brian Stajura took third place overall in the regatta, bringing home the team’s first trophy.   Monica Sachnoff received the Good Sportsmanship award.  All awards were presented by Rear Admiral U. S. Navy Commander David Speindl who was really impressed with the sailing.

Two of the sailors McAuley Monica Sachnoff and Brother Rice Brendan Rathbone-Desch got an opportunity to try on their skipper hats.  All of the sailors had a blast and are looking forward to the fall season.

The team says good-bye to McAuley seniors Brittany Schmit and Molly Sullivan and wish them good luck in their future endeavors.

Filed Under: Articles of Interest, Athletics, Crusader Clips, Sailing, Sailing News, Students

Sailing: Taste of Columbia

May 5, 2011 By

Columbia Yacht Club hosted a gala May 2, at it’s Fifth Annual Taste of Columbia.  The event is in support of the Columbia Yacht Club Legacy Foundation, which is an organization that gives support to the junior sailing program at Columbia.  This program allows the Sailing School to offer its outstanding curriculum to young sailing enthusiasts.  The Brother Rice-Mother McAuley High School Sailing Team is just one of the many student groups to reap the benefits of the generosity of Columbia and this Foundation.

The event was an awesome experience!  Executive Chefs from some of Chicago’s finest establishments paired amazing culinary creations with elegant libations which were served to appreciative (and HUNGRY) guests.  None of those in attendance would dream of missing Taste of Columbia in the future!

Sailing Team members assisted with greeting and directing guests, with the silent auctions and raffles, and in the pre-gala preparations.  A live auction was held featuring a one year membership to Columbia and Executive Chef Beike donated two all inclusive catered 7 course dinner parties.  Most impressive was how well the coaching staff looks in suits!

The team would like to thank Commodore Peggy Brennan, Sailing Master Kurt Thomsen, Executive Chef Breanna Beike, Coaches Ted Hale and Dustin Daumer, and the incredible staff of Columbia worked tirelessly to bring the event together.   We would also like to thank the Columbia Yacht Club for their continued support of our fledgling team!

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Filed Under: Athletics, Crusader Clips, Sailing, Sailing News, Students

Sailing: Midwest District Mallory Qualifying Regatta

April 19, 2011 By

The Brother Rice-Mother McAuley Sailing Team competed in the Midwest district Mallory Qualifying Regatta held at Columbia Yacht Club April 16th and 17th.  The Mallory is the oldest national high school championship regatta dating back to 1930.  From the 7 Interscholastic Sailing Associations across the US, the three top teams from each district qualify for the National Championships.  This year, the Mallory will be held in Austin Texas.  In the Midwest district, of  32 registerred teams 16 competed in the qualifier.  Our sailors competed against the best in the Midwest.

Saturday was rainy and cold with gusting winds to 26 knots (approximately 30.5 MPH).  The Crusader-Mighty Macs fielded one team with 2 skippers (Russ Mullane and Zach Pakula) rotating 7 crew (Caroline Janecke, Brendan Rathbone-Desch, Monica Sachnoff, Diana Sanchez, Brittany Schmit, Brian Stajura and Mollie Sullivan).  Our team scored thier best overall placing to date finishing 13th out of 16 teams.  Notable performances were by Zach Pakula and Monica Sachnoff in the B division with an 8th place finish in the 4th race while with capsizing 3 times, Zach Pakula and Brendan Rathbone-Desch still managed to pull off a 9th place in the 6th race.

While the sun came out on Sunday, the wind gusts were even stronger with 6 teams being unable to finish some of the races.  The Crusader-Mighty Mac teams were able to finish every race which bolstered their ability to pull off thier strong placing. Representing the Midwest in Austin will be Loyola Academy, Minnetonka and Lake Forest.  Notable Chicago-land area teams included Lake Forest Academy finishing 4th, New Trier 6th, St. Ignatius 7th, Evanston 10th and the U of C Lab School 15th.

The hard work and dedication of the sailing team is paying off in the improvements noted in performance and placing as the team matures under the outstanding coaching of Ted Hale, Kurt Thomsen, and Dustin Daumer.  We express our continued gratitude to the  Columbia Yacht Club for the support that is shown to our team.

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Filed Under: Articles of Interest, Athletics, Crusader Clips, Sailing, Sailing News, Students

Sailing: Ice Breaker Regatta

April 5, 2011 By

The Ice Breaker Regatta hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club, the homebase for the St. Ignatius, Loyola Academy and New Trier Sailing Teams, took place April 2nd and 3rd at Belmont Harbor.  Our sailors, many of which were competing after just 2 weeks of instruction, weathered stiff competition, cold temperatures (the water temperature of LakeMichigan was 41 degrees), gusty winds, and even sleet.  The results of the Regatta are still pending as many protests or fouls are awaiting adjudication  by the jury of the race committee.  Brother Rice-McAuley team finished every race and sailed fairly clean being exonerated from all of their fouls resulting in no pending protests against our team.

Russ Mullane skippered the A fleet boat with alternating crew from McAuley and Zach Pakula skippered the B fleet boat with fellow Crusaders Brendan Rathbone-Desh and Brian Strajura as well as McAuley women at the helm.  Coach Ted Hale (Alumnus of St. Mary University of Annapolis Maryland 2010 and National Collegiate Sailor of the Year2010) was overall pleased with our team.  His strategies for team improvement in upcoming practices includes working on better placementon the starting line to improve overall fleet position and improving team communication and unison.

We welcome our new McAuley sailors and look forward to the next regatta, The Mallory Qualifiers, the weekendof April 15th and 17th at Columbia Yacht Club, DuSable harbor; the home base for the Crusader-Mighty Mac sailing team.  All are welcome to come and see what team racing is all about.

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Filed Under: Articles of Interest, Athletics, Crusader Clips, Sailing, Sailing News, Students
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