Erin Sprague Named Sailing Director
Cal State University Maritime Academy Athletics brought aboard new sailing director, Erin Sprague. She comes to Cal Maritime from Greenwich, Conn. where she was the Sailing Director at Indian Harbor Yacht Club and coach of the Greenwich Academy sailing team.
Originally from Westford, Massachusetts, Sprague learned to sail on Nantucket Island.
"My first boat of my own was a sunfish," Sprague said. "I spent every day after school sailing on the lake near my home and started an annual Labor Day Weekend Regatta to benefit the Local American Legion."
Sprague Graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell with a B.A. in American Studies and a focus on American Philosophy, Pragmatism, and Athletic Philosophy. She Competed four years as a collegiate NCAA rower in the women's lightweight 4+ and heavyweight 8+.
She was the main trimmer of the team representing American Yacht Club in Rye, New York that won the 2016 and 2017 International Women's Keelboat Championship. Sprague currently races J70s, Vipers, and J105s and looking forward to sailing competitively in the Bay Area.
She's very excited to join the Cal Maritime community and promote all the on-the-water activities the area has to offer.
"When I first visited the campus, I was struck by how the campus is so effectively centered around the waterfront," Sprague said. "How many coaches can say their school is literally built around their playing field? Cal Maritime is the perfect institution and venue to support this growing program and the exciting sport of sailing."
Sprague's main goal is to build a competitive dinghy team in both fleet and team racing as well as supporting all competitive sailing within Cal Maritime. When she's not sailing, she enjoys running, Nordic skiing, climbing, backpacking, surfing, backcountry skiing, playing the violin, and being lazy with her Newfoundland dog, Redford.
After a top-three finish at the 2018 Farr 40 North American Championship in Long Beach, the Offshore Sailing Team is gearing up for a potential trip to Chicago at the 2018 Farr 40 World Championships on October 8, 2018. They are accepting donations to be able to make the trip. You can find out more and contribute at https://maritime-giving-challenge.everydayhero.com/us/sailing-team-fund.