Printer Friendly Version - Branford Sailing Moving Masts Swimmingly in Return to Competitive Waters

Pictured from the Branford sailing team are Emilia Jefferies, Ellie Harmon, Katie Harmon, and Gus Fichtenholz, as the Hornets have had quite the prominent return to active competition in 2024. Photo courtesy of Chris Newlan

Emilie Jefferies (front) and Gus Fichtenholz (back) share some smiles, as they prepare their boat for a race for the Branford sailing team this spring that has attained a 5-0 record in Connecticut League races. Photo courtesy of Chris Newlan

For the first time since the pandemic, the Branford sailing team can boast a competitive squad this year. While the Hornets may have not been part of league action for quite some time, they are moving like they never skipped a beat or lost any steam on the waters.

With second-year head coach Chris Newlan, Branford is back for a full campaign after only taking part in a 2023 abbreviated season from late April to May and only competing in unofficial scrimmage events. This spring, the Hornets have made an emphatic return to the seas of the Connecticut League, sporting a perfect 5-0 record in league team races. Their triumphs included victories over Guilford, Hand, Xavier, Salisbury, and the Sound School.

“We entered this year with a key goal of returning to competitive sailing. Branford has not competed as a team since pre-COVID years, and we were ready to rejoin the league,” said Newlan. “Sailing racing has two event types, team races and fleet races, and our goal was to do both. Our league consists of a mixture of public and private schools and falls under the umbrella of NESSA [New England Scholastic Sailing Association], which includes schools from all five New England states.”

Additionally, Branford recently sailed in NESSA's fleet race qualifier against 12 other schools at UConn Avery Point, finishing in the top half of the fleet. The girls return to Avery Point on Saturday, May 18 to compete in the Hereschoof Trophy Qualifier–serving as the NESSA's girls’ fleet race championship. The entire voyage of the campaign culminates in the CT League Championship race later in the month of May.

The team is led by three junior captains this year in Gus Fichtenholz, Charlotte Green, and Katie Harmon, who are all juniors at Branford High School. Serving as essential skippers on the waters, each member of the terrific triumvirate of leaders brings a wealth of knowledge behind the scenes in race prep to procure the most optimal outcomes.

“They each joined our team with a wealth of sailing experience in both individual and team racing,” said Newlan on his captains. “They are our skippers during our races, meaning they make the majority of the tactical decisions during races and work closely with each other to produce winning results.”

Equally important to the sailing team are the students who assist and crew in the two-person boats for the skippers and squad stewards. They include sailors of sophomore Emilia Jefferies and junior Ella Ng. They are complemented by freshman but well-water versed athlete Ellie Harmon, and rounding out the roster are junior Aurora Lyon and freshman Masen Mervine.

“Emilia and Ella have built on their skills developed last season and have become invaluable crew members,” said Newlan. “Ellie Harmon joined us with deep knowledge and skill with the versatility to be both skipper and crew. Ellie and Emilia are both poised to take over as skippers in the future. Aurora Lyon and Masen Mervine have worked hard this year to develop their sailing skills and learn the rules and nuances of high school sailing and racing. There's a lot to learn, and they have both made huge gains this year.”

Newlan raised up the accomplishments of each of the competitors this year. Devoid of how the postseason competitions unravel for Branford, he knows they have boasted themselves as champion-caliber crew members with their motivation and determination to take flight to the most supreme heights.

“I am proud of all of our sailors so far this year. They have worked hard to improve on all of the basic skills needed to compete at a high level,” said Newlan. “I am impressed by their desire to constantly improve, evident by them asking for more time to develop the more advanced team racing skills. They continue to grow individually, but more importantly as a team, which is crucial to be competitive. Branford sailing's future is very bright!”

The Branford sailing community and its supporters go well beyond any town lines. Newlan made sure to take the time to showcase this thankfulness to some nearby collegiate allies in the Greater New Haven area.

“I would also like to extend our gratitude to Yale, especially coaches Zak Leonard and Bill Healy, who do so much to make Branford High School's sailing team possible,” Newlan said. “We couldn't do it without your support.”

The Branford roster is comprised of juniors Fichtenholz, Harmon, Green, Lyon, Ella Ng; sophomore Jefferies; plus freshmen Harmon and Mervine.