Currently ranked first in Canada, the McGill Sailing team continues to make waves as a fully independent student-run team. The team broke away from any status or recognition from McGill a decade ago. This independence is freeing but costly, as the team is entirely student-funded without financial support from McGill. The team thus relies fully on fundraising initiatives to finance practices, coaches, travels and other expenses.
“We pride ourselves on [being entirely student-run and financed] compared to other schools—and we’re not even talking about the U.S., where their sailing programs are completely funded by the schools,” team captain Pierre Offredi told The Tribune. “We do this all on our own and we make it run.”
This year’s achievements were made possible thanks to the support from the sailing community, alumni, and supporters. Raising more than $32,000, the fundraising efforts exceeded all expectations, allowing the team to acquire a new fleet of boats. Typically donations, along with team fees, go towards paying fees to yacht clubs in order to compete.
“That was an exception, we typically don’t raise that much money, ” Offredi said The Tribune. “Our dues [team fees paid by athletes] are fairly high and that’s something that we’d like to lower.”
Recruitment has been a key issue for the team as well. Offredi explained that with the COVID-19–induced pause of the 2020-21 season, the recruitment cycle for new sailors continues to be affected. The recent graduation of most pre-pandemic sailors highlighted the missed generation of sailors, and the subsequent gap between veterans’ graduation and the newer recruits.
The structure of the team also influences their ability to provide a stable framework for recruitment and competition. The executive roles of the team shifts yearly, as different sailors step up to become president, vice-president, team captain, or treasurer. This yearly turnaround could lead to challenges in terms of continuity.
“You don’t have the central figure, you don’t have a coach, or you know, a team leader that’s there all the time,” Offredi explained. “Everything’s moving around all the time, that makes it hard for people to fully recruit everyone.”
As such, the team invests in constant outreach to the broader McGill community in the hopes of garnering more interest into this seemingly niche sport.
“This year, we went to Activities Night and we try to use social media, we try to talk to people, we go to junior yacht clubs, and we try to recruit people,” Offredi offered. “We’re trying to promote sailing for everyone [….] It’s fairly expensive. It’s not [accessible] to all, that’s—I find—really unfortunate, and something we’re trying to grow on with our learn-to-sail program.”
Nonetheless, the team spirit carries the sailors through high winds and low tides. The social activities organized helps ease newer recruits into the essence of the team.
“I see the people coming in every year, I see myself coming in, and everyone loves the sport as much as the next person. And everyone wants to put in as much effort as they can,” Offredi concluded. “Because they know if the effort isn’t put in, there’s no one there to pick up the work. And so everyone really pushes themselves to keep this team going. And not only keep it going but to push it to new heights.”
The sailing team will be welcoming Olympic sailor Peter Hall as a guest speaker on Feb. 7 as part of their Match Race Chlalk Talk.