The first Statesman sailor to earn All-America honors, Andy Horton is the first sailor to be inducted into the Hobart Athletics Hall of Fame.
As a sophomore, he led the sailing team to its first berth in a national championship regatta, placing 10th in the Inter-Collegiate Yacht Racing Association (ICYRA, the predecessor of today’s Intercollegiate Sailing Association) Coed Dinghy Championship, earning the first of three straight ICYRA All-America awards. As a senior, Horton competed in the ICYRA Sloop National Championship, finishing fourth and closed out his career at the ICYRA Coed Dinghy National Championship, helping HWS to a third place finish.
During his collegiate career, Horton helped HWS to its first War Memorial, America Trophy, and Atlantic Coast championships. He served as the team captain and was named the team MVP in 1997-98.
Horton graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He spent a year as an assistant coach at his alma mater before pursuing a highly successful career as a professional sailor. Horton won a gold medal in the Lightning Class at the 1999 PanAm Games and was a finalist for the 2003 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Award. In 2006, he partnered with Brad Nichols to win the US SAILING Team of the Year Award.
Horton is a two-time World Match Racing Champion, the 2007 Star North American Champion, the 1999 Lightning North American Champion and the 1998 Mum30 North American Champion. He has finished in the top four at the U.S. Olympic Trials three times.
Recently, Horton competed in the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series, serving as strategist for the Italian entry, Luna Rossa, which reached the Challenger Finals.
Return to List
