Sperry Charleston Race Week takes place this coming weekend in Charleston and that means over 2,000 racing sailors will be in town. Among them will be former America’s Cup racers, world champions and a few Olympic medalists. This homegrown regatta – now in its 21st year – has evolved to become the largest keelboat competition in both North and South America, drawing participants from around the country and around the globe. And one competitor in particular will be making a name for himself at the event, though he won’t be doing that by winning trophies.

Ben Poucher (far left) and the Warrior Sailing Team get ready for a day on the water in Charleston.

Meet Ben Poucher ’05. Though Poucher graduated from the College with a degree in urban studies, he has since pioneered a role for himself as a professional sailor and director of the Warrior Sailing Program. This unique nonprofit organization teaches wounded military veterans and active service personnel how to sail and stay active in the sport.

One way that the program keeps its participants active is by supporting the Warrior Sailing Team, a group of individuals who travel around the U.S. competing in sailing regattas. Poucher coaches this team and he’s fond of pointing out that this group doesn’t just sail in disabled events, the team competes mostly against able-bodied crews.

At Race Week this year, just as he did in 2015, Poucher will be on board the Warrior Sailing Team’s entry in the J/22 Class, using one of the boats from the College’s fleet. As the coach, he’s very hands off, letting the team members handle the majority of the sailing related duties.

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“On board, we’ll have Scott Ford, who is legally blind, along with Sammy Lugo and David Caras,” says Poucher. “These guys have really come a long way as racing sailors in just a very short amount of time. Last year, we finished eighth out of nine boats, so we’ve definitely got goals for this year.”

Poucher adds that a few other members of the Warrior Sailing Team will be racing on board Metholius, an 84-foot sloop that is entered in the Pursuit Class. As the largest boat at the event, Metholius will be hard to miss.

Learn more about Sperry Charleston Race Week and visit the Warrior Sailing Program for more on the Warrior Sailing Team.