Three stories from University Yacht Club’s Jr. Sailing Program
For the past 15 years, the UYC Maritime Foundation has spearheaded the Jr. Sailing Program at University Yacht Club in Flowery Branch. Since it began, more than 200 students have participated in the program, many returning year after year to fine-tune their sailing skills. But what most of them discovered has gone way beyond learning how to handle a sailboat safely on the water.
“Yes, sailing has been the focus of the program, but what has happened to the students and coaches has been incredible to watch,” said Susan Reddaway, long-time sailor and director of the program. “So many of our students have learned to be more confident, to work as members of a team and to look beyond sailing to how their experiences have made them the people they are as adults.”
Perhaps 45 to 50 percent of the students logged three or more summers in the programs. Some have become US Sailing Certified Level I coaches, turning the tables from students to instructors. They’ve returned to Lake Lanier and UYC to be role models of the younger students who now stand where they did more than a decade ago.
“About a half-dozen of our coaches who have come up through the program have taught and managed other youth-sailing settings,” Reddaway said. “About a half-dozen or so are now competing as racers on the regional and national stage, and a couple now race internationally.
“It was never our intention to teach young students how to race; ours is not a competitive environment but one of leadership, friendship and personal development, and of course all while having fun on the water,” she said.
Here are the stories of three young adults who began the program as elementary-aged students and how the UYC Maritime Foundation’s Jr. Sailing Program changed their lives.
Sophia Ostervold
Sophia on the water when she was younger.
On the eve of her graduation from Polimoda Fashion School in Florence, Italy, Sophia Ostervold took a few minutes to share some insight into her career choice as a fashion designer.
“I’ve been living in Europe for the past five years attending college in France and then Italy to learn international fashion design,” she said. “I have been lucky enough to participate in internships and learning opportunities here and make a name for myself.”
Within the past year, her work has been published in Vogue Italia and most recently in PAP Magazine in Italy. Even before graduating from Polimoda, she was offered an internship with Helly Hansen outdoor clothing in Norway.
Sophia Ostervold teaches knot tying at UYC.
Her graduation required designing a collection that will be published in several international fashion magazines. Growing up as a lover of extreme water sports, she based her collection on sailboat racing.
She began the UYC Maritime Foundation Jr. Program at age 10. “At first it was all about being on the water and learning to handle a boat,” said the graduate of Walton High School. “As I became a competitive sailor, I noticed that sailing clothes were never designed with the female body in mind, so I explored functionality and femininity in my designs.”
In the meantime as she approached her mid teens, she got certified as a US Sailing coach and when she moved to Europe, she returned every year to coach.
“I am so fortunate to have so much support from family and friends,” said the 22-year-old. “And when I started learning to sail, I never imagined it would lead me to an amazing career.”
Noah Hicks
Noah on the water.
Looking back on his first year of the UYC Jr. Program when he was 7, Noah Hicks remembers being excited to learn to sail. As he got to know the other young sailors, he realized that the sport would be fun.
“I didn’t think much else at that time, and I certainly didn’t see myself as becoming a coach,” said the University of Georgia social work major. “It was more about having fun, although I will admit there was one thing that was always in the back of my mind.”
Noah Hicks received the Sportsmanship Award in 2019. Rick Smith made the presentation.
One of the most coveted awards each session is the Sportsmanship Award, given to the student who demonstrates the most willingness to help others without putting themselves first. The recipient is chosen by the other students at the end of the week.
“My parents always taught me to leave a place better than I found it,” he said. “That’s part of sportsmanship, especially when it applies to other people.”
He returned to the sailing program as a student every year and at age 16 was asked to take the classes become a certified US Sailing Level 1 instructor.
Always interested in athletics, his school years were filled playing football at North Hall High School. He also paddled canoe at Lanier Canoe and Kayak for five years.
“One of the best memories I have from my early days in the program is that feeling of being able to rig and sail a boat on my own,” he said. “Even then at age 10 or 11, it was just so empowering and I’ve carried that with me into the things I do today.”
Alanna Bateman
A young Alanna Bateman on the helm of an Opti, sails with another young student.
Alanna Bateman began the program when she was 7 years old, but it was not her first experience on a sailboat.
“I grew up on the water and loved and still do love sailing with my grandfather Stephan DeBlasio, who is a long-time member of UYC,” she said. “Sailing on his boat Gisela was such a fun way to spend a summer day on the lake.”
Through the program she learned to sail all the program boats, from the Optis and Sunfish to the Lasers, and at age 15 in 2019, she was asked to become a coach in training.
Then COVID happened and she continued as a coach. She earned her US Sailing Level 1 instructor’s certification this past April and was named co-head coach for this summer’s season.
“Throughout my coaches training, I noticed that there are many ways to learn, and I carefully watched how others taught. I was named assistant head coach last year and that – and receiving my Level 1 certification – gave me a whole new perspective on sailing.”
A graduate of Decatur High School, she attended the University of Colorado for a year before transferring to the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she continues to study architecture with an emphasis on sustainability.
Alanna receives the Lifetime Sportsmanship Award with Rick Smith.
“I was land-locked in Colorado and I really missed the water, so coming back to Georgia was perfect for me. And being able to blend sustainability and nature into my architecture studies is so fulfilling.”
When asked how the program changed her, she was quick to say that it taught her leadership. “Back when I started I never imagined I’d become a coach and eventually a certified instructor.”
This has been a stand-out year for Alanna. Being named a co-head coach was just the start.
In late June, she received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Sportsmanship Award for her 13 years with the program.
“Being surprised doesn’t begin to describe how I felt when they presented me with the award,” she said. “It was the last thing I expected but it is something I’ll remember for a long time.”
Photos: provided by UYC
