Waves of support

By Rachel Farrell | Published October 2025

Born and raised in Hawaii, Sage Andrews (CAS’28) grew up on the ocean—learning to sail when she was only six years old and developing a passion for coral reef restoration during her teenage years. She knew Boston University was the right place for college, since it offered both a strong ecology program and an active sailing team. But what Andrews didn’t know was how supported she’d feel at BU, especially by alumni and donors in the community.

Can you tell us about yourself, your major, and your BU experience so far?

I’m a biology major, specializing in ecology and conservation biology, and I’m planning on minoring in marine science. I also sail for the BU Sailing Team and I’m the team’s sports and information director (SID). It’s been really cool to be part of an environment that has both competitive academics and competitive athletics.

I understand you joined the BU Sailing Team with a lot of experience.

Yes and no. My dad, who coaches the sailing team at the University of Hawaii, was my coach all through my youth. But where I come from, sailing looks a little bit different. I grew up sailing, but switched to the IQ Foil, which is an Olympic windsurfing class. I competed at the national and international levels and was lucky to be the only female windsurfer representing the US at the Youth Sailing World Championships for two years.

So, while I came to college with a ton of sailing experience, I’d never touched the type of boat used by college sailing clubs. That made me super intimidated when I joined the BU Sailing Team, because I didn’t know if my experience was applicable. But the team just welcomed me with open arms. Everybody has been incredibly helpful, encouraging me and offering advice on ways to keep improving.

As SID, what do you do for the team?

I basically manage the team’s social media, newsletters, and merch orders, and I help other members of the e-board as well. That’s allowed me to speak with alumni and unlock this whole new network of people behind our team. It’s been really cool to connect with those people and see how vast our sailing community is. Also, as SID, I help encourage donations to the team for Giving Day.

Why are donations so important for the team?

Without our donors, we would not be able to function. All our team’s boats, along with all our sails, were paid for by donations. Our sport is incredibly expensive, which means it’s not always accessible to athletes. We try to use donations as much as we can to support new sailors who can’t afford dues.

Donations also help fund our travel for training or competition. Last year, when the Charles River was frozen over, we went to North Carolina to train for a week. And when the women’s team qualified for Nationals this year, a lot of the costs associated with our housing and fleets were covered through donations, along with a stipend from BU club sports.

What would you like to say to the alumni and donors who have supported the team?

Thank you! I’ve been so inspired by them, and they make me feel like I’m part of a much bigger thing. We’re more than just a team; we’re a community and a family. I hope alumni will stick around, because I know our team is capable of amazing things—and I want to achieve that for them as much as us.

Editor’s note: Interview has been edited for length and clarity.