> US SAILING Media > Sailor of the Week > 2011 > Sailor of the Week - April, 2011 > Genevieve Bradley
Genevieve Bradley
Sailor of the Week: April 14-20Winthrop High School (Mass.) started a sailing team last year under head coach Jeff Brock. They launched this new sailing program with leadership, skill and experience on their roster. Senior Genevieve Bradley embodies all three of these qualities.
Genevieve has been co-captain of the Vikings sailing team for her junior and senior seasons. She has played an important role in launching this upstart program. Last year, Genevieve received the Coaches Award for the leadership she provided. Winthrop sails the 420 and Mercury on the Charles River and in the Boston Harbor area.
On April 5, Genevieve was sailing with her team in 420s at the Cottage Park Yacht Club (CPYC). It was a very windy day on the harbor. One boat capsized and Coach Brock went to rescue the sailors from the 35 degree water. Unfortunately, the coach’s chase boat engine died and the harbor master was on route to assist. Another boat capsized much further away from the first capsized boat.
“I saw them go over and instinctively sailed over to help,” explained Genevieve. “I noticed my teammate who was in the water was shaking and knew I had to get her out of the water.”
She instructed her crew to hold the tiller and as Genevieve pulled her teammate into their boat. The crew was trying to right the turtled boat and another teammate picked him up. Genevieve sailed her teammate in shore where she changed into warm, dry clothes.
Pilots on a plane landing at Logan Airport, located off Boston Harbor, saw the turtled boat and called the air-traffic controller reporting an emergency. The Air Traffic Control called in the Coast Guard and MassPort to assist the capsized boats. Soon after, news outlets were down at the dock.
“I do not know why it was such a big deal,” Genevieve said. “A 420 capsizing is not newsworthy, because this happens all the time.”
Years ago, Genevieve took a safe boating course, and she mentioned learning safety and rescue protocols from her father. “Watching out for others on the water seems to run in the family, because a few weeks prior my dad rescued a number of rowers when their boat capsized during the Snow Row in Hull (Mass.),” she said. Genevieve’s father, Larry, is a commercial lobsterman, and has a number of marine rescues to his credit.
Genevieve’s parents (mother Sandy), both sail and they own a Rhodes 19. Genevieve has been sailing since she was 6 years old at CPYC, where she has been an instructor for the last three years.
Genevieve is enthusiastic about her high school team and truly loves the competition. “Since our team is only two years old, we are not as experienced as the others,” she explained. “It is so exciting beating teams that have been together for a while. I also enjoy bonding with my team and watching the new sailors grow.”
“I have been fortunate to have Hatch Brown the past MIT sailing coach as my instructor, mentor and friend for all my years at the Cottage Park Yacht Club. He taught me a lot about tactics. Coach Brock has been my teacher in school as well as my coach. He has helped me understand the rules in racing,” she commented.
Genevieve also looks forward to the future. She’ll be attending the University of Vermont School of Nursing and is excited about sailing at the collegiate level.