Chris VanTol, 27 (Helmsman)

Chris began his sailing career at the age of 13 at the junior sailing program at Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, Michigan. Through the program he sailed everything from Optimists and Flying Juniors to Club 420s. His love of match racing was born when he was 15 years of age and crewed on a boat competing for the Great Lakes Match Racing Championship. He began helming in 1998 while competing alongside his brother John and a group of young Detroit area sailors in various junior match racing venues. Chris took a short break from sailing while attending Purdue University from 2000-2004. A career in the marine industry has allowed his team to put together an aggressive racing schedule that has allowed the team ranking to steadily increase since 2006.  

Click Here for his ISAF Biography

Michael B. Hoey, 44 (Bow/Tactics)

Mike began sailing at the tender age of 10 with the sailing great, Bob Orr. He has competed in one-design classes such as the Cal 25, Melges 24, C&C 35, Tarten 10, along with a wide variety of big boats such as the Swan 70 Chippewa, turbo-sled Equation, TP 52s, Farr 40s, and Z-86s. He has sailed with the match racing team since the fall of 2005. Mike's sailing achievements include 3-time 12-meter North American Champion, 3-time Cal 25 National Champion, U.S. Match Racing Champion '03, Knickerbocker Cup Champion '07, and St. Thomas Rolex Cup Champion '02. 

Click Here for Mike's ISAF Biography

John VanTol, 25 (Middle/Tactics)

John began sailing at the age of 10 out of the junior sailing program at Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, Michigan. He was competitive in the Optimist Class through the age of 14 when he then began sailing the Laser. For the last few years he has competed on a national level in that class. His match racing career began at a young age crewing for his brother, Chris. The two of them have sailed nearly every match race regatta together ever since. John's sailing achievements include Laser Great Lakes Champion '06, Knickerbocker Cup Champion '07, Express 27 Great Lakes Champion '07 and '08, silver medal at the U.S. Match Racing Championships '05, bronze medal at the U.S. Single-handed Championships '03, 3rd place at the Laser Atlantic Coast Championships '06, and qualifying for the 2007 Laser Olympic Team Trials.

Click Here for John's ISAF Biography