About Us
The Husky Sailing Club was formed over 75 years ago in 1948, to “promote sailing at the University of Washington… and to compete in intercollegiate sailing meets. All interested persons are eligible to join”.
Since its humble beginnings, the Team has competed in multiple collegiate national championships and to date, Husky sailors have been named to the College All American Team eighteen times. In addition, Husky sailors have gone on to compete in multiple world championships, become Olympic medalists and leaders in the communities of sailing, business, medical, tech, aerospace and many more. Husky Sailing has touched the lives of an estimated 2,000 college student athletes at Washington.
We are a strong community of sailors and academic scholars. We motivate one another to continue to grow in all aspects of college life. We support one another on our individual collegiate sailing journey and endeavor to leave a profound impact on the lives of all Husky Sailors.
In 2021, distinguished alumni and Team members came together to form the Husky Sailing Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting the needs of Husky Sailing. Our vision is to build and maintain a nationally competitive and inclusive sailing team at Washington for the next 75 years!
GOALS
We’re student athletes committed to excelling in the classroom, on the race course and in life. Our team has set our sights on winning a national championship in the next five years. We’ve already expanded the size, expertise and training of the Co-ed and Women’s teams and with your help we hope to attend multiple out-of-district regattas each season as well as national events. Our best sailors will train and compete in the major events and our developing talent will race in the minor events. All of our team members will compete in practices and regattas, sailing in hundreds of races a year as we hone our racing skills and turn our daily practices into regatta level racing.
MISSION
The mission of the Husky Sailing Team is to compete at the highest levels of college sailing while demonstrating integrity, dedication, and sportsmanship.
VALUES
Competition. The Husky Sailing Team develops student-athletes into outstanding sailors whose top competitive priority is success at collegiate regattas.
Inclusion. The Husky Sailing Team maintains its commitment to train all dedicated sailors, regardless of skill level. The team strives to ensure that all sailors are receiving the support and coaching required in order to be competitive. We seek to create an inclusive environment and to provide excellent sailing opportunities for those who love the sport and push themselves to improve, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nationality, and socioeconomic status.
Academics. The Husky Sailing Team is composed of students enrolled in rigorous academics at a top tier university, and as such, we acknowledge the utmost importance of academic excellence.
Community. The Husky Sailing Team is composed of a group of young adults who strive to exhibit sportsmanship and integrity of the highest caliber, both on and off the water. The team also maintains its commitment to camaraderie and friendship, both between our own members and in our relationships with other teams.
Leadership. The Husky Sailing Team is composed of a group of socially and environmentally conscious young adults who are committed to governing themselves and the team. Student leadership opportunities are central to the college sailing experience, and we aim to continue to provide sailors with these opportunities as the team develops. The Husky Sailing Team recognizes that we are leaders within the Pacific Northwest sailing community, and we strive to act in a manner that exemplifies this and benefits the community.
HUSKY SAILING HISTORY & ACCOLADES
UW Sailing is proud to have a rich history of accomplished sailors who shaped who we are as a team today.
HUSKY SAILING OLYMPIANS
Bill Buchan (‘54) and Steve Erickson (‘87)
Gold Medalist Star Class
1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games
Carl Buchan, (‘79)
Gold Medalist Flying Dutchman
1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games
Charles McKee (’85)
Bronze Medalist 470 Class
1988 Seoul Olympic Games
Bronze Medalist 49er Class
2000 Sydney Olympic Games
HUSKY SAILORS OF THE INTER-COLLEGIATE ALL AMERICAN TEAM
1973, 1975 Mark Laura All American
1974 William E Buchan Inter-Collegiate Yacht Racing Hall of Fame
1977 W Carl Buchan All American & College Sailor of the Year
1977 Brian Thomas All American
1984 Leslie Miller All American, Crew
1985 Charlie Mckee All American, Co-Ed
1985 Jack Christiansen All American, Co-Ed
1985 Jackie Caston All American, Crew
1988 Herbert Cole All American, Co-Ed
1987, 1988 Rebecca Rudd All American, Crew
1992 Dennis Coplen All American, Crew
1994 Alyssa Burke All American, Crew
2004 Kim Kishi All American, Crew
For more information on the ICSA awards and teams check out their website here!
OUR FLEET
In the Spring of 2022, the Husky Sailing Team was gifted, for the first time ever, its own fleet of sailboats. Twelve Flying Juniors! The arrival of this fleet and expansion of the Husky Sailing team was made possible by several generous donations made by the Jeff Wright Family and the dedication of the Husky Sailing Foundation.
