Pete Spaulding was introduced to the sport by his parents, and began his sailing career racing Blue Jays at Shrewsbury Sailing and Yacht Club in Oceanport, N.J.  During his junior sailing years, Pete was primarily a crew although he occasionally skippered.  After moving up the ranks in junior sailing, he moved back to the driver’s seat to compete in three International 420 World Championships. 

After graduating from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School in 1994, Pete headed to Boston College.  As a freshman, his racing experience quickly landed him the position of starting skipper for the Varsity B-Division.  He would ultimately earn ICSA All-American honors for three years, while his efforts organizing the sailing team, along with his athletic accomplishments, earned him the “Eagle of the Year” award which is given to the most outstanding senior athlete at Boston College. Graduation, in 1998, did not end Pete’s affiliation with the BC Sailing Team – he became their part-time coach.

Surprisingly, the most influential person in Pete’s athletic career was not a sailing coach.  “My high school track coach, Jerry Beaver, was the first athletic coach I had that pushed me to physical and mental limits.  He taught me self-discipline and stressed the importance of hard work.  Other coaches have taught me more about sailing, but Coach Beaver taught me how to train to be the best at whatever I do.  I will never forget those lessons.” 

Pete teamed up with Tim Wadlow in 2000 to make a run at the Olympics, a pairing that reunited the childhood friends and college sailing rivals.  The competitive energy that they used to direct at each other, they now channel toward attaining the same goal – an Olympic medal.

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