NKHS alum earns top national sailing honor with ambition

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, June 28, 2006

SEATTLE — Alex Jones’ has done it all for the love of the sport.

The North Kitsap High School alum’s story epitomizes that common phrase as, during the past three years, he has offered the time, energy and organization which combined to create the figurative wind that has helped keep the University of Washington sailing team moving forward.

In recognition of his efforts, Jones was recently named Sportsman of the Year by the Inter Collegiate Sailing Association of North America.

Since his sophomore year in 2003, Jones has been a captain and solid skipper on the UW sailing roster. Over the course of his upperclassmen years, he is credited with raising — near single-handedly — $30,000 for the non-varsity sport club that does not receive funding from the university.

In addition to the duties of being an athlete, teammate and fund-raiser, Jones also stepped up to the responsibility of a coach.

“It’s fun,” Jones said of what fuels his nautical passion. “There were definitely other people helping out and I just, somehow, ended up in that role.”

Jones’ love for sailing began in Poulsbo as he joined the North Kitsap Sailing Team when a freshman. And from there, the adoration washed over, Jones said.

Taking the role of team captain/fund-raiser/coach at UW, Jones did everything a typical coach or athlete does times two. As one of the team’s top sailing skippers, Jones not only attended practice everyday, he was also in charge of scheduling and running them. In addition to practice, he also scheduled regattas and organized team travel to events, he noted.

“He’s certainly a good leader, and he’s very organized when it comes to all that sort of thing,” said teammate and fellow NK grad Brendan Fahey. “Mostly, I’d say his personality is very likeable and he gets along with everyone and that sort of makes him a good leader.”

“I didn’t worry as much about sailing as much as I did that stuff got done,” Jones said of his leadership. “There’s the sailing aspect, but on the other hand I was stressed out about administrative aspects as well. It was a lot to think about.”

Through his example, Jones has given many people “a lot to think about.”

Jones was born with optic nerve hypoplasia which is an incurable, non-correctable vision disorder that has rendered him legally and almost functionally blind. To sail, he relies on input from his crew, the feel of the boat and other factors that sighted sailors need not consider.

However, Jones has never considered the disability an excuse.

“You will never hear Alex talk about his disability or let it be a factor in the outcome of any race. It is just something that he quietly deals with,” Husky sailing teammates wrote in a nominating Jones for ICSA Sportsman of the Year.

Upon hearing the announcement, following the ICSA national championships June 2 in Charleston, S.C., that he had been selected as Sportsman of the Year, Jones was pleasantly blown away.

“The award announcement was a total shock at nationals,” he said. “I was surprised, and I just remember thinking what sailing means to me is ‘fun.’ Going on a trip and having all these experiences with your friends is the best thing. These are friends that I’m going to have for the rest of my life.”

Jones is planning to spend the rest of his life teaching as he graduated this May with a bachelor’s degree and is planning to pursue a masters in education at the UW next year.

He hopes to follow his mother’s footsteps into the teacher’s desk at an elementary school.

But it may be too soon to predict a Jones-led elementary school sailing team.

“I definitely want to stay involved with the sport, but I don’t know if I’m cut out for the coaching thing,” Jones said.