Ridge Sails Ahead This Seaon

BASKING RIDGE, NJ – The Ridge High School Sailing team is well into its sixth season this fall. The team was founded by the Leopold family and is now headed by Sailing Coaches Gary and Ann Myer who are passionate about teaching sailing.  Kristan Amicone is the current Administrative Coach.

According to Amicone, some of the members of the team have prior experience and others have little to no experience at all. There are a total of 16 students on the team this fall. The season begins with the start of school and runs until November. Amicone joked, “We start in bathing suits and finish in dry suits.”

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For the regattas, or races, the team usually has an A team and a B team with two sailors in each boat: one skipper and one crew member. A skipper ensures the safety of the crew, obeys relevant rules/regulations, controls the mainsail, sets the race strategy, and steers the boat. The crew member is responsible for controlling the jib, optimizing weight distribution, and calling out boat positions to the skipper.

The team practices at The Raritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy while the regattas are held most Wednesdays and Saturdays in Toms River.

Since the dual-season team has not yet been active for four years, they are only partially school funded and still rely on parents to transport the athletes and fund a portion of the expenses. The equipment needed for each team member can cost around $1,000.

For now, the sailing team competes in regattas that supply boats but Amicone says the team is currently fundraising to get their own boats and sails. The team will be washing cars Sunday, September 29th at Ridge from 10:30-1:00.

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The team is a truly co-ed sport. Amicone emphasized, “It’s a really great group of kids.” She said her goal is for the kids to learn and have fun and added, “The team interaction can be a wonderful blessing.”

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