Page 9 - Priorities #42 2009-January

A Conversation with Priory Student and World Class Sailor Claire Dennis by Dan Polk
Senior Claire Dennis has sailing in her blood and it shows. At 17, she’s already garnered top awards in sailing, is ranked 41st in the world, and is on the U.S. Sailing Team. Here’s what Claire had to say about her accomplishments.
How did you get into sailing?
My father is from Victoria, BC and was very into sailing. Before moving to Saratoga, we lived in Texas. I was an energetic kid; sailing at the Hous- ton Yacht Club kept me active and also helped me escape coastal bugs. Also, during the summers, we lived near the San Juan Islands where there was plenty of sailing.
What is most challenging about your sport?
Mentally it is difficult to maintain focus and inten- sity. Competitions or regattas often last for 6 or more days; the Olympic trials went for nine days. Each day, I am in two races that last longer than an hour, each covering 4 to 5 nautical miles. Basically, all I do is eat, prepare my Laser boat to race, com- pete, then sleep and do it all over again.
What is your training regiment like?
I sail almost every weekend out of the St. Fran- cis Yacht Club in San Francisco. I am usually on the water for 3 to 5 hours, with more time spent preparing my boat. On land, I do a great deal of running and cycling as well as weight training to strengthen my core, quads, and upper body.
What are your sailing goals for the future?
I would like to be All-American for sailing. I am currently ranked 41st in the world and am on the U.S. Sailing Team. My goal is to compete in either the 2012 Olympics in England or in 2016, or both. Only the top sailor goes to the Olympics, so this will be a challenge. I will most likely be attending Yale or another east coast college.
What are your most favorite and least favorite things about sailing?
I love racing. I’m very competitive, and it is fun to pass other boats. I hate being cold. I wear a bunch of special clothing, but I still get cold, especially in the waters of northern Europe.
How does it feel to compete on an international level?
It is pretty cool. Sailing isn’t that big in the U.S., es- pecially not on the West Coast. When I was sailing
in Portugal, everyone in town knew about it. It was almost as big as soccer’s World Cup or something like that.
What are some of the highlights from your Priory experi- ence?
Running cross-country and track, the academically challenging classes and the teachers. You can talk to the teachers and work with them in a personal way.
I have especially enjoyed my English and History classes. The friendships I’ve created here are very im- portant. I also really like Priory’s campus, especially the trees and openness of the campus.
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My goal is to compete in the 2012 or 2016 Olympics ...