Sailing Kindles an Olympic Flame in Lake Forest Sailor

What began on a lake in Wisconsin 15 years ago has become an Olympic quest for Lake Forest resident and Boston College junior Annie Haeger.

A year after learning how to sail on a Wisconsin lake, Haeger's father, Kent, was living with his family in London, owned a 45-foot boat, completed his current job assignment and decided to "circumnavigate the globe," according to Annie's mother, Julie.

"We hired a nanny and set sail from Gibraltar through the Mediterranean," said Julie Haeger as she described how a severe storm put some of the trip that included Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand on airplanes and trains as well as the boat. "We home schooled the children for a year and they learned a love of life from a whole different perspective."

Annie Haeger, who was recently named to the U.S. Sailing Development Team, takes her next step toward attaining her Olympic goal Jan. 23-28 when she tries to make the U.S. Alphagraphics team in Miami in the 470 dingy class — a 470 meter single hull boat.

The Sailing Development team consists of four, two-person men's teams and three female tandems including Annie Haeger, the skipper, and her Boston College partner and crew, Briana Provacha of San Diego. Two men's squads and a pair of women's groups will be chosen for the Alphagraphics team.

"Alphagraphics is another step (toward the Olympics) for full-time Olympic athletes. It's fully funded, but I'd have to take a year off from school," said Annie Haeger, who added that decision will be made with her family if she is selected.

Now she is working tirelessly with Provacha in Florida using the training facilities of the development team, something they first did Thanksgiving weekend in Miami under the tutelage of U.S. Olympic Sailing Committee coaches.

"Working with Kevin (Burnham) was amazing. We gained so much from him over the weekend," said Annie Haeger of a coach who earned gold medals at the 2000 and 2008 Olympics.

Their days began with an early breakfast watching film of the previous day's sailing and then spending five hours on the water, including lunch, practicing those techniques. "We looked at sailing shape (how the boats were rigged) and Kevin would show us ways to improve it," she added.

When Haeger and Provacha compete for a spot on the Alphagraphics Team, they will sail two 75-minute races a day over six days adjusting to wind and sea conditions each time. The Alphagraphics contingent will be selected after the Regatta and while Haeger is not certain what she will do if successful, she knows what she will do if she is not.

"I'll go to the (Olympic) Trials anyway and see what happens," she said of the Olympic trials held both June 5-11 in Weymouth, England, and Dec. 3-18 in Perth, Australia.

"This is my dream. If not in 2012, then in 2016," she added with determination.

That characteristic resolve is nothing new for Haeger, a product of the . Nine years ago, her high school coach, , recognized that same trait.

He credits Annie, her father and brother, Will, a national champion for the Scouts last season and now a varsity sailor and freshman at Tufts University in Boston, with making Lake Forest a national powerhouse today.

"She's a very talented, tenacious athlete and a very good team player," said Ratliff. "She went out of her way to help the others (her teammates) and get more people involved. Her father did the same thing."

Kent Haeger went on a quest to raise money for the Lake Forest team and create ideal conditions for the Scout sailors.

"He organized extra practices at different facilities, raised money for more boats and arranged for us to sail nationally. He helped take us to the next level," said Ratliff.