Caroline Patten (Barnegat Light, N.J.) has a lot to look forward to with a very busy and exciting sailing schedule on tap. Caroline is a senior skipper on the Hobart/William Smith College sailing team and a promising Lightning sailor. Last month, Caroline and her crew received a boat grant from the International Lightning Class Association (ILCA).
The ILCA grant program is designed to fund young sailors who want to experience the high level of competition offered by the ILCA. The program awards at least two young teams a competitive boat, plus substantial regatta expenses for one season of racing. There will be mentoring provided and the goal is to expose more youth racers to the ILCA circuit.
"We really like her enthusiasm," says ILCA Co-Chair Debbie Probst. "Last year after she just missed receiving a grant, she found a boat to borrow and experienced Lightning sailing. We were very pleased when Caroline applied again. And we think we'll really capture her interest in the Lightning Class after she is completely immersed this summer. Her successful application this year might serve as an example to other teams who we encourage to reapply next year. Don't give up." Patten's team includes Tyler Menninger of Langhorne, Pa. and Michael Crann of Brick, N.J. Lightning sailor, Jarrett Lynn will be assisting the team as their mentor.
Caroline and her crew plan to race the Lightning at both national and local regattas. “We are only just getting started on the program but already everyone involved has been super helpful. We were provided with a mentor, and we cannot wait to get going and just race it,” Caroline said.
Caroline enjoys Lightning sailing, and a big reason for that is because of the sailors in the class. “Last summer I did a bunch of regattas in the Lightning circuit and I was amazed at how helpful such a competitive group of sailors could be,” she said. “The class seems really tight-knit, but is still super welcoming to anyone who wants to get into the boat.”
On top of this great news, Hobart/William Smith College advanced to the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) / Gill Dinghy National Championships, May 30 – June 1 at the Gorge in Cascade Locks, Ore., after finishing seventh in the ICSA Western Semifinals last week in Long Beach, Calif.
Caroline had this advice for high school sailors interested in competing at the collegiate level: “Make sure you are doing it because you love to sail. College sailing is a big commitment, but definitely worth it if you’re willing to work hard.”
Caroline is grateful for the help and support she has received throughout her sailing career and looks forward to giving back. “I have had a lot of people help me and I want to be able to do the same for someone else. This is why I teach sailing in the summer. I want to make sure that the kids I teach have fun with it and want to keep doing it.”
Click here to learn more about the ILCA boat grant program.
http://www.lightningclass.org/racing/boatGrant/2011/pressrelease.asp
Tell us about the Boat Grant you received from the International Lightning Class Association. How do you plan on taking advantage of this opportunity?
Basically the ILCA awards young teams with a boat and covers much of the regatta expenses for one season of racing. The idea is to expose and encourage younger racers to the Lightning class. My crew (Tyler Menninger and Michael Crann) and I were chosen to receive the grant for 2011 and plan to race the boat at both major and local regattas. We are only just getting started on the program but already everyone involved has been super helpful, we were provided with a mentor, and we cannot wait to get going and just race it.
What do you enjoy about Lightning sailing?
The Lightning is a fun boat to sail, but the class itself is really what makes Lightning sailing unique. Last summer I did a bunch of regattas in the Lightning circuit and I was amazed at how helpful such a competitive group of sailors could be. The class seems really tight-knit but is still super welcoming to anyone who wants to get into the boat.
What advice would you have for high school sailors interested in sailing competitively in college?
To make sure that they are doing it because they love to sail. College sailing is a big commitment, but definitely worth it if you’re willing to work hard.
Give us an update on your college sailing season?
I had a pretty good fall and am trying to finish off the spring solidly as well. Our whole team is working really hard and I know I’m excited about what can happen in the upcoming weeks. – Finished third in the ICSA Western Semifinals and will compete in Nationals - ICSA/Gill Dinghy National Championships, May 30–June 1 at the Gorge in Cascade Locks, Oregon.
General Sailing Questions:
Did/Do other members of your family sail?
My two younger brothers used to sail but had to give it up when they began to focus more seriously on wrestling. My parents don't sail but have always been super supportive anyways.
What do you enjoy most about sailing?
The competitive side of it, I like that there is always someone who can challenge you and make you work hard.
What are some events/opportunities that you are most looking forward to in the future?
I am graduating from school in May, other than that I am looking forward to sailing this summer and then trying to figure out a career...
Why do you think it is important to give back to the sport?
I see how much it has given to me. I have had a lot of people help me throughout the years with sailing and I want to be able to do the same for someone else. That’s the reason that I teach sailing in the summer. I want to make sure that the kids I teach have fun with it and want to keep doing it.
Do you have any "funny story" to relate about sailing or something else unique that you think our readers would be interested to know about you?
I’m also really into snowboarding, I lived up in Lake Placid this winter and taught at the mountain.
TARPON SPRINGS, FLORIDA -- The International Lightning Class Association is pleased to announce the 2011 Boat Grant Teams. Going into its fifth season, the innovative Boat Grant Program puts race-ready Lightnings into the hands of young teams who might otherwise not be able to campaign a Lightning.
Skipper Caroline Patten is a senior at Hobart/William Smith College who lives in Barnegat Light, New Jersey. "We really like her enthusiasm," says Co-Chair Debbie Probst. "Last year after she just missed receiving a grant, she found a boat to borrow and experienced Lightning sailing. We were very pleased when Caroline applied again. And we think we'll really capture her interest in the Lightning Class after she is completely immersed this summer. Her successful application this year might serve as an example to other teams who we encourage to reapply next year. Don't give up." Patten's team includes Tyler Menninger of Langhorne, Pennsylvania and Michael Crann of Brick, New Jersey. Local Lightning sailor, Jarrett Lynn will be assisting the team as their mentor.
This program is designed to fund young sailors who want to experience the high level of competition offered by the ILCA.
The ILCA grant program will award at least two young teams a competitive boat plus substantial regatta expenses for one season of racing. There will be mentoring provided and the goal is to expose more youth racers to the ILCA circuit.
http://www.lightningclass.org/racing/boatGrant/2011/pressrelease.asp