Friends, parents, and alumni, you are invited to contribute to the future of IUP Sailing. Our fleet (of used JY15s launched in Fall of 2012.) Our goal is to replace these with newer FJs or 420s which are used by our peer clubs.
It will soon be April 15th. Please consider a tax deductible donation.
Below are some archive images from the first seasons of IUP Sailing 2.0. We’ve had over a decade of sailing and perhaps a hundred alumni. We’ve moved the base, gone on a Spring Break training trip in North Carolina, and sent teams to regattas hosted by Gannon, Penn State, and Drexel.
These JY15s were well-used when we purchased them in 2012. With your help, we can upgrade the fleet for the next decade.
Ben Swanson qualifies as a US Sailing Small boat sailor after exploring the sport at Yellow Creek Lake as part of the IUP Sailing club.
Kittanning native Ben Swanson ’24 had never been on a sailboat when he arrived at IUP during the midst of the Covid pandemic. But the novice was attracted to the image of sailing off into the sunset. It was also a good time to join an outdoor activity you enjoy when there’s a breeze blowing.
Four semesters later, the junior Economics major and Cook Honors student has completed the fourteen areas of theory and practical boat handling to earn his Small Boat Sailing certification from US Sailing. This establishes that he is capable of skippering a dinghy, keel or centerboard day-sailor in light to moderate air.
Swanson was selected as the club president and “Commodore” last Spring. Along with other club members, he has sailed in college regattas hosted by Gannon at Lake Erie and Drexel on the Delaware River. The club also spent several days of the 2022 spring break “training” at Bow to Stern Sailing in Oriental, NC.
Like all new members of IUP sailing, Swanson gained practical experience with the club boats that are docked in nearby Yellow Creek State park, at the FOYC community sailing base. In September, October the sailors learn to rig and launch boats, navigate, trim sails and even practice righting a capsized boat. In March they wait for the lake to thaw and launch boats again for April and May. During winter, the club focuses on shore-school, sailing theory, knots and social activities.
Dr. Ken Sherwood, IUP Sailing Club advisor and certified US Sailing instructor, gave Swanson his final skills checkout at the lake in mid-October. Happily, Swanson had completed his capsize test in warmer months. Most IUP students, like Swanson, have not been previously exposed to sailing. The club teaches beginners the basics, fosters camaraderie, and gives the most serious sailors a chance to experience competitive racing. Sherwood encourages interested students to check out the club on Instagram and Crimson Connect or to email IUPSailingClub@gmail.com for information about joining. Dues are low and becoming a sailor can open up a lifetime of priceless opportunities.
Five IUP students travelled to Erie PA to race in the college sailing regatta hosted at the Erie Yacht Club the weekend of 9/17.
Ben Swanson (’24), skipper, and Archie Perella (’24), crew, led the Hawks A fleet boat. Olivia Lawton (’24), skipper, and Ben Lawton (’24), crew, took charge of the B fleet boat, Reserve sailor Alex Sidora (’24) had the chance to crew in his first regatta after being introduced to the sport in August!
IUP Sailing welcomes all students, especially beginners. Anyone can learn the basics at the home base at nearby Yellow Creek State Park. “None of the five sailors at Erie had sailed prior to enrolling at IUP,” according to club advisor and Prof. of English, Ken Sherwood. Many club members enjoy relaxing sails and BBQs at home. In order to give advanced sailors the opportunity to race, the club applied to the Mid Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association.
Ben Swanson reflects: “I’m very proud of our team for facing off against people that have sailed their whole lives and staying competitive throughout each and every race. Everyone did a fantastic job. It was also a lot of fun!”
“The Erie race was a great team building experience and a wonderful opportunity” according to Oliva Wanat, who observed that IUP “did a great job and got a chance to explore our passion for sailing.”
IUP students are welcome to reach out to the club via social media or Crimson Connect; attend a Thursday 7:30pm (Jane Leonard) meeting; or join the club for a Sunday (noon, Hub Circle) sail while the weather remains warm this fall.
Hosted by Gannon U, the college regatta involved 7 boats sailing around a buoyed course in Presque Isle Bay, with a committee boat, mark set boat, and two safety boats supervising while the non-racers and spectators watch from the EYC docks. During a three-minute countdown, the boats jostle for position at the start line before powering across and tacking towards the upwind mark. Winds were light Saturday (5-8 knots, SW) and so the racing was suspended after 10 races at 3pm. Sunday morning brought a great breeze (WSW Winds 10-12 and gusting to 20) which made for fast sailing and one capsize — not IUP!
Ben Swanson, Archie Perella
Olivia Wanat, Ben Lawton
Alex Sidora, Olivia Wanat
Churning up the lake
Keeping ahead
Heading out to start
Close quarters
Other competing schools included Gannon, Pitt, Penn State Behrend, U Rochester, RIT, and Syracuse. IUP typically sails in two or three regattas per year. The regatta name references the historic naval victory of the Brig Niagara and Com. Oliver Perry’s fleet against the British in the War of 1812.
IUP sailors also volunteer maintaining boats and the sailing base at Yellow Creek. In August, they invited incoming students to a Welcome Week sail at the park.
Congratulations to Sam, Ben, Sam and Archive, who competed in their first every college sailing regatta at the Erie Yacht Club this weekend. The sailors had great wind conditions and had the chance to fully immerse themselves in college racing, with competition from some very seasoned competitors out of Syracuse and RIT, as well as nearer clubs like Penn State, Pitt, and Gannon. Already we are talking strategy for our October race at Penn State / Prince Gallitzin.
It was a beautiful day for a regatta at the Erie Yacht Club on Presque Isle Bay on Lake Erie. By the start of racing the wind filled in at NE 8-12 knots and was consistent through most of the day. The RIT Tigers got off to a great start in the early going and sailed strongly through the whole day, holding down the number one slot. Syracuse and Pitt battled for second place, trading leads a couple times, but by the end of the day the Syracuse Orange began to settle into second. At 12:30 we broke for a catered lunch generously provided by the Erie Yacht Club foundation. After lunch the wind built to 12-15 but then started back down to 8-10. We finished 14 races, the last two in dying air. The race committee, comprised of many Erie Yacht Club volunteers, kept the course square through the day. All races were W2s because the wind is expected to be light tomorrow, and we wanted to get through as much of the rotation as possible today. Racing will reconvene at 10AM tomorrow with four more races to complete the rotation.
Sunday, September 19:
Another beautiful day on Presque Isle Bay on Lake Erie. Racing started at 10:00 AM with four more races to go to finish the rotations. The first race went off in 5-10 kts from the NE, and a couple holes scattered through the course. By the second race the breeze was up to 8-12 and pretty much a repeat of yesterday. We finished two B Fleet races and then each fleet finished off the day with a W4. Even though there were only four races today there were a couple close rivalries to watch. The battle for first place tightened and went down to the last race with the RIT Tigers holding onto first place by one point over the Syracuse Orange. In another rivalry, the Penn State Nittany Lions did their best to catch the Rochester Yellowjackets, but Rochester was able to hold them off. Of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without a capsize, which happened in the very last race of the regatta. All the teams were on the road home by 1:00 PM. Thanks to all the teams for their sportsmanship, and a big thanks to all the volunteers from the Erie Yacht Club who were on the water in every capacity both days. Thanks also to all the team members from the host schools — Gannon University, Mercyhurst University and Penn State Behrend — for their contributions to prepping the boats and keeping the regatta running smoothly.
IUP Sailing Club offers you the chance to pursue your official, US Sailing Small Boat Certification. You can get started by pursuing your crew-level badge from the sailing club; then level up to “IUP Skipper” before taking the US Sailing certification challenge.
IUP Sailing club invites new and returning members to the first session of spring “shore-school.” The lake is still frozen, but you can get a head-start on the sailing season by learning the basics through shore school. In the first of four half-hour sessions introduces teh wind, boat physics and nomenclature, capsizing and basic knots. Have you ever wanted to learn to sail? The IUP Sailing Club is open to all members of the IUP community (students, faculty and staff.) Weather permitting, the club sails each Sunday at nearby Yellowcreek State Park.
Club meeting begins at 8pm in HSS 112. Shore school at 8:30pm.
For more information visit our blog https://iblog.iup.edu/iupsailing
write IUPSailing@gmail.com
or find us on Facebook.
