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06/19/2012 12:00 AMPirates of the Caribbean believed that having a woman aboard did nothing more than curse their ship, but sailors in Madison certainly don't buy into that swashbuckling superstition. The Hand sailing team was co-captained by Eden Straub this year, leading the Tigers' spring hunt for treasure chests full of racing success.
Eden was the lone female senior on the Hand sailing team this season, captaining the Tigers with Eric McKissick. A passion for the sport and a bevy of on-water experience made Eden a perfect choice to lead the young program, bringing more hands on deck than ever before while navigating the choppy waters of big-time competition.
"I love being on the water; sailing is just a get-out-there, fun-in-the-sun sport," Eden says. "The people you meet are fun. I don't think I've met one person through sailing I didn't like. I just love it."
Eden's sailing career began long before she took charge of the Tigers' fleet. The senior has been sailing since she was eight years old, beginning her time on the water at the Pilot's Point Sailing School. Racing on JY 15s, Eden was the youngest sailor to compete and place in the top five at a race at the Duck Island Yacht Club. Paired with Megan Bracken, Eden was the junior champion of the Frost-Biting race series-a winter race grand prix-based out of the Essex Yacht Club. She has attended regattas from Buzzards Bay to Larchmont, placed second in the Connecticut State Championship in 2011 and was third in 2008, earning two youth scholarships from the Duck Island Yacht Club.
"When I was in 7th grade, I did the Frost Biting races with my friend Megan and we got first place," says Eden. "We beat boats full of people who have been doing these races for 13 and 14 years. It was the coolest feeling ever."
After two years of running outdoor track, Eden decided to give sailing for Hand a try last season as a junior. The Hand sailing team has been recently formed, still learning the tides and currents of the local competition. But Eden and McKissick dished out a big assist this year by persuading more to participate in the sport. The two set up a Facebook page for the team, formed the program's own booster club, and brought 10 new freshmen out for the spring season.
"We pitched sailing as so much fun and something they'll have a great time doing, even if you don't know how," she says.
Even with all of the new faces, this spring proved to be of the Tigers' best yet on the water. Eden, who crewed with freshman skipper Nate Gould, led Hand to a 10-6 record and a sixth-place finish in states.
"She did an excellent job," said Hand Coach Paul Risseeuw. "We did better this year than in any other previous season."
Eden's sails filled with pride when she talked about everything the Tigers accomplished in 2012.
"Last year, we weren't one of the best teams, and this year, we did really awesome," Eden says. "We are getting more and more kids involved. There are so many freshmen on the team so I'm excited that when I leave there will still be a lot of talent."
Eden will now take her talents south to the University of Tampa, where she plans on studying education, hoping to teach English one day. Tampa does not offer a sailing team, but Eden is already in the process of changing that. Eden says she has already contacted other University of Tampa students through Facebook and has started a sailing club. The club currently has 13 members, and though the team likely won't sail competitively, Eden's passion for being on the water will never leave her.
"I just love to sail; I don't only have to be competitive," she says. "I would have gone today for just for fun if I had the time."