Sailor Spotlight - Jackson Beam '29

Sailing can sometimes seem like an out-of-reach hobby — something that might be expensive and inaccessible, weather-dependent, or hard to learn. Virginia Sailing’s Recreational Program works hard to bring the opportunity to sail to the UVA community, regardless of sailing experience. The success of our recreational sailing program has brought many students to the team with little-to-no sailing experience. 

In just the few months that he has been at the University, Jackson Beam has become an integral part of Virginia Sailing. Although hesitant about the program at the University’s Clubs and Activities Fair, just a semester of sailing has led to him joining the Race Team and winning an election for the club’s incoming Executive Board.

Jackson Beam is a first-year Aerospace Engineering student from Goochland, Virginia. Outside of Virginia Sailing, he has also joined a professional engineering fraternity on grounds, Theta Tau. He joined the team as a recreational and social member with no sailing experience, but has become involved socially and recreationally, going to Lake Days throughout the semester to learn more about sailing. 

A common mindset of University students — “work hard, play hard” — is reflected well in sailing, says Jackson. In fact, it's one of his favorite things about the school. He said, “I see that [mindset] a lot in sailing too. During the week, I find myself studying and working a lot with other sailors, so by the time Friday and the weekend comes we’re able to go sail …  without having to worry as much about our classes.”

The recreational sailing program this past semester was managed by Math and Econ student Hammond Unger ‘27, who had his hands full with the high number of interested students. The backbone of the recreational program is the team’s Lake Days, where Race Team members teach prospective sailors more about sailing. Virginia Sailing held six Lake Days this semester, where Jackson and his friends, along with many other students, spend their Sundays on Lake Anna. Fall at Lake Anna is almost always less windy than the spring, but Jackson recalls his favorite moment on the water from a day with little wind: “My favorite sailing memory was on a warm lake day this past fall. We had almost zero wind … we decided we should [practice] our capsizing … it was honestly just really fun swimming and hanging out with everyone in the water.”

And of course, Lake Days are a great way for students to get outside with their friends, and for recreational members to spend time with Race Team members. The community within Virginia Sailing is the favorite of many team members — “The people I’ve met and friends I’ve made in sailing are by far my favorite part of the club,” Jackson told me. With a higher number of interested first years than previous years, the Class of 2029 has become a very close group within the

team: when it isn’t Wing Wednesday,

they’re in the library together or working

on painting the team’s new table. 

Looking into spring semester, Jackson, along with Grace Earl ‘29, will be the Social Directors for Virginia Sailing. He shared some of his thoughts about the upcoming responsibility: “I am new to sailing this year so I don’t have a lot of experience, but I was just elected as Social Director and am pumped to take a more involved position within sailing … I’m very excited to continue building our community and grow sailing …Specifically though, I’m very excited for our parents formal and alumni regatta this spring. Both of those will be so much fun. Much of Jackson’s own social involvements at the University revolve around the team and he is excited to bring that into his new leadership role: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed making so many friends and meaningful relationships and I hope I’ll be able to foster that for others this year.”

We are so excited to see what else Jackson will bring to the team!