Sailors Erik Storck '07 and Trevor Moore qualified for the Olympics in London (via the U.S. Sailing Team)

Erik Storck ’07 and teammate Trevor Moore recently qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics and will represent the United States as part of U.S. sailing team. Storck and partner Moore began sailing together in 2008 with the sole focus of qualifying for the London Olympics, Storck said. Sailing for over 200 days and competing in 10 or more events a year, the team ultimately qualified at the end of the 2011 World Series in Australia. Dartmouth sailing coach John Storck, who is Erik’s older brother, said that the qualification system for the U.S. team is an accumulated points system. John Storck awoke to emails from Erik detailing the team’s qualifying World Series win after their successful performance in Australia.

Moore and Storck have known each other since they were 10 years old, though they competed at different colleges, according to a press release from U.S. Sailing Communications Director Dana Paxton. Earning the only U.S. berth to the Olympics in the 49er class, involving a 4.9 meter-long dinghy, was “a stepping stone” for Storck’s ultimate goal, to bring back a medal back from London for the United States. Storck said he is optimistic that he and Moore will sail well as part of the American team.

“The Olympics are special in that national pride is the driving force behind the competition,” Storck said. “Team USA has such a storied history, and we look forward to adding our own chapter.”

Since this will be the first time either sailor has competed in the Olympics, Moore and Storck have sought advice from veteran Olympian competitors, according to the press release. Storck’s goal is to focus on each part of the longer sailing event since it lasts 10 days instead of the usual six.

Attributing his successes on the water to “strong and consistent tactics,” Storck said that he and Moore will strive to sail clean and free and steer away from traffic in their regatta. John Storck predicts that Erik Storck will sail particularly well, adding that he did not want to give any concrete expectations as that “can get in the way of doing your best.”

Best of luck to Storck as he represents the Big Green on the world stage!