​NEWPORT NEWS — The Captains will once again set sail after a period of uncertainty. Christopher Newport University has confirmed that its coed sailing team will be reinstated, months after the university announced it would disband the program. The move comes as part of a settlement between the university and lawyers representing three student-sailors who had threatened a class-action lawsuit on Title IX grounds, alleging sex-based discrimination. According to the law firms representing the students—all of whom are women—this case marks a historic moment, as it represents the first instance in which a Title IX dispute has led to the preservation of a coed athletic program.
In March, University President William Kelly announced that the sailing program would be discontinued for the 2026-27 academic year, citing increasing financial pressures and a decline in participation. In a message to students issued Wednesday, Kelly attributed the program’s reinstatement to new resources now available to the team through the Christopher Newport Sailing Foundation. Hannah-Louise Roethel, a rising junior and member of the sailing squad, described the resumption as a symbolic victory for a university deeply connected to the region’s maritime industries. Roethel was among the students named in the suit. “Everyone is ecstatic to go back on the water again and compete and represent our university,” she said. “We are excited to move forward and give our best in the upcoming season.”
Roethel noted that the relief is shared across the entire team. Like many of its members, she first learned the sport and grew to love the sailing community through participation with the program. By restoring the team, university administrators demonstrated a willingness to listen to students. As part of the settlement, CNU will pay just over $66,000 to cover the students’ legal expenses. “The students weren’t seeking financial gain,” said Linda Correia, one of the attorneys representing them. “They simply wanted the opportunity to sail.” The agreement also calls for an independent gender equity review to ensure fair opportunities for all student-athletes.
The students’ lawyers argued that the university’s decision to disband the sailing team would have disproportionately reduced opportunities for female sailors, particularly given the context that female sailors had historically competed in separate events. They contended that, based on enrollment figures, the university could not afford to scale back athletic opportunities for women if it hoped to maintain Title IX compliance. Moving forward, women on the team will have the chance to compete separately in female-specific competitions.
In the wake of the settlement, a search was underway for a new head coach for the program. Kate Gomes, an athletic-academic mentor at the university, was named interim head coach. Kelly indicated that he and his cabinet were deeply moved by what he described as an extraordinary display of the power of the CNU community in the months following what he acknowledged as a difficult decision. He praised the collective effort and resilience of students, coaches, alumni, and supporters who helped bring the program back and ensured continued opportunities for student-athletes to pursue sailing at Christopher Newport University.
This development aligns with the university’s broader commitment to providing equitable access to athletic opportunities while preserving the region’s maritime heritage and the competitive spirit of its sailing program. The reinstatement underscores CNU’s responsiveness to student voices and its willingness to address concerns about gender equity in athletics, signaling a fresh start for the Captains on the water.