NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – On March 23, 2026, Christopher Newport University announced the decision to discontinue Sailing at the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year. Following a successful fundraising campaign by The Christopher Newport Sailing Foundation, Inc., Christopher Newport Athletics announced it will restore the sailing program effective immediately.

President William G. Kelly provided the campus community with the following update on the return of CNU Sailing:

Dear Captains,

I am pleased to share that Christopher Newport University is immediately reinstating our co-ed and women's varsity sailing program, and our Captains will return to the water this fall.

This exciting news has been made possible through the extraordinary leadership and generosity of The Christopher Newport Sailing Foundation, Inc. I am deeply grateful to the Foundation's leaders, our sailing alumni, families, supporters, and everyone whose commitment and financial support made this possible. Their efforts have secured the resources necessary to sustain the program and I look forward to working with the Foundation as we set a course for the future of CNU sailing.

As part of our Strategic Compass commitment to foster a welcoming and inclusive university, we will also undertake a comprehensive gender equity review of our athletics program during the coming year. This independent assessment will help ensure that we continue to provide equitable opportunities for all student-athletes and will culminate in the development and adoption of a Gender Equity Plan by August 30, 2027.

I am also pleased to announce that Kate Gomes '08 has agreed to serve as Interim Head Coach while we conduct a national search for a full-time head coach. The team will be anchored by several returning sailors and recruitment of new student-athletes will be underway shortly.  Thanks to the support of The Christopher Newport Sailing Foundation, Inc., our sailors will have the coaching, equipment, and resources necessary to compete at the highest level. I am committed to ensuring we provide opportunities for our co-ed and women's sailing program consistent with intercollegiate competition requirements and will continue to provide those opportunities moving forward. I want to see the team, including its female members, thrive.

Over the past several days, Athletic Director Kyle McMullin, members of my Cabinet, and I have had the opportunity to speak with student-athletes, alumni, families, and supporters of the program. Their enthusiasm, optimism, and unwavering commitment to Christopher Newport have been inspiring.

Earlier this year, I made the difficult decision to discontinue varsity sailing based on the financial realities of sustaining the program and declining participation. What followed was an extraordinary demonstration of the power of the CNU community. Alumni and supporters stepped forward with renewed energy, a sustainable funding model, and a shared commitment to rebuilding the program for future generations of Captains.

Sometimes leadership requires making difficult decisions with the information available at the time. It also requires recognizing when a community has created a new path forward. I am grateful that our sailing alumni, supporters, and the CNU Sailing Foundation did exactly that.

The Captains for Life who proudly represented Christopher Newport on the water wanted future generations to have the same transformational experience they enjoyed. Their generosity and dedication have ensured that legacy will continue.

This is a decision I am genuinely pleased to reverse, and I look forward to cheering on our sailors as they once again proudly represent Christopher Newport University.

Go Captains!