FAQs


Isn’t Middlebury in the Green Mountains of Vermont, far away from the ocean? Where does the team sail

The club sails on the stunning Lake Champlain in Panton, a short 25 minute drive from campus. Yes, Lake Champlain is surrounded by mountains, and is electric with foliage during the fall sailing season! 


Is the sailing team a club or varsity? 

The team is a club, made up of two main parts: A recreational program and a racing team. The recreational program is designed to offer students the opportunity to enjoy some time out on the water, learn how to sail or improve their own abilities through either a recreational or weekly PE program. The program also is unique in providing students with access to a community of fellow sailors and novices alike without the commitment of being a member of the racing team. The other part of MCSC is our racing team. With a current roster of over 25 active members, the team practices Mondays through Thursdays and travels to roughly 25 regattas annually all over New England. We sail against other club and varsity teams in NEISA, our regional league associated with the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA). The Fall season runs from September through mid November and the Spring season runs from March through mid May. During the Winter, the team engages in further off-the-water sessions to continue to improve as athletes, competitors, and overall sailors.


How does a weekend regatta work? 

The team typically leaves Friday after classes and travels North, South, East, or West to compete. Given the variety of sailing venues and temperamental nature of New England’s seasons, the team can expect wide changes in weather and sailing conditions. The team typically competes in 2-3 regattas each weekend in the fall and 1-2 each weekend in the spring season. Each regatta features anywhere from 4-18 other college sailing teams in a variety of types of dinghies. Team members are not expected to travel every weekend throughout the sailing season, but are encouraged to race 3-5 weekends.


Is it possible to balance the sailing team with all of the academic commitments of Middlebury?

Absolutely. Many of our active team members compete 4-6 weekends each season while balancing a full course load and serving as board members of the sailing team. Many team members are also associated with other clubs or teams on campus and often recruit friends to join the sailing team. Most sailing team members would agree that sailing adds balance to a busy course load and provides a fun source of exercise each day.


Does the team do organized workouts?

The team meets on campus for workouts Tuesday and Thursday mornings during the season. During the winter, the team gets together during normal practice hours 2-3 days each week for a workout session.


Can I visit the team? Does Middlebury recruit sailors?

Please do! Unfortunately, because we are a club team, Middlebury does not recruit sailors, nor do they, or any college sailing teams, offer a scholarship to sail at the collegiate level. If you would like to plan a visit, contact our team by emailing sailing@middlebury.edu. Everyone is welcome, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch and join us on the lake—even if you’ve never set foot in a boat!