URI Women’s A Division skipper Rachel Bryer ’17, of Jamestown, R.I., was named an Inter-Collegiate SailingAssociation Women’s All-American Skipper this summer, one of only six women nationwide to win the honor.

Bryer has been sailing solo since she was 8 years old. She has a funny story to tell about joining URI’s sailing team under coach Skip Whyte: “I came into college with a pretty good sailing resume from high school, so Skip was kind of talking me up at the beginning of the first practice. But probably two minutes after we got on the water, I capsized. It was really embarrassing.”

She adds that sailing has taught her patience, commitment, and how to work in a team, and that she expects to sail all her life.