Crew

Helena began racing competitively relatively late after a soccer-obsessed childhood. Thanks to her father, sailing has always been a part of her life, having grown up on Lake Washington near Seattle. Thanks to her coaches in high school, especially Jen and Ben Glass and her skipper Katy Cenname, her 29er racing career took off quickly and soon she was selected for the US Sailing Development Team. Helena just graduated from Stanford University where she competed for the varsity sailing team for four years, including leading as co-captain for two years and competing in 10 National Championships for Stanford.

While racing at 49erFX Worlds in September 2013, Helena was hit by a boat which broke her spine and two ribs as well as lacerated a kidney. It was a wake-up call to the risk involved in racing high-performance boats at the world class level and took a while to sink in. She healed miraculously well and time off the water only strengthened her drive to pursue her sailing goals. Helena knows that she wouldn’t be anywhere without the support from her coaches, friends, family and especially her tireless father.

Read more about Helena here and here. NBC Olympics Bio here.

Age: 24

Birthplace:  Cheltenham, United Kingdom

Hometown:  Kirkland, Washington

Youth Sailing:  Sail Sand Point (Laser, 420),  Seattle Yacht Club Race Team (29er)

Yacht Clubs:  St. Francis Yacht Club, Seattle Yacht Club

Sailing Teams:

2015 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider | 49erFX with Paris Henken

2014 US Sailing Development Team | 49erFX with Paris Henken

2013 US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider | 49erFX with Allie Blecher

2012 US Sailing Development Team | 29erXX with Annie Schmidt

2010 US Sailing Development Team | 29er with Katy Cenname

2010 – 2014 Stanford University Varsity Sailing Team (Co-Captain 2011-13)

Honors & Awards:

2015 Pan American Games Bronze Medalist

2014 Seattle Yacht Club’s Bob Gibbons Memorial Trophy: One-Design Sailor of the Year

2014 Intercollegiate Sailing Association: Academic All-American Sailing Second Team

2013 Intercollegiate Sailing Association: Academic All-American Sailing First Team

2013 Stanford Athletics Board: Block “S” Award for Outstanding Female Junior

Stanford Varsity Sailing Co-Captain 2012-13, 2011-12 seasons

2012 Intercollegiate Sailing Association: All-Pacific Coast Collegiate Sailing Conference (PCCSC) Crew

2010 Seattle Yacht Club: One-Design Sailor of the Year (with 29er skipper Katy Cenname)

2010 29er Pacific Coast Circuit: Maxam Trophy for Top Female Crew

Education: 

Stanford University | Stanford, CA | In progress | M.S. Mechanical Engineering

Stanford University | Stanford, CA | Class of 2014 | B.S. Biomechanical Engineering

International Community School | Kirkland, WA | Class of 2010