Photos by Kenny Lass

When Tulane Athletics announced the elevation of sailing from club to intercollegiate varsity status beginning with the 2018-19 academic year, it was hailed as a great day for a great sport. Seven years later, Tulane sailing has another milestone to celebrate — a brand-new home.

On April 17, 2025, Tulane and Community Sailing New Orleans (CSNO) — which has hosted Tulane sailing from its inception — dedicated the Libby and Robert Alexander Community Sailing Center overlooking the Municipal Yacht Harbor at West End Park in New Orleans’ marina district.

The two-story, 4,500-square-foot building was made possible by a $2.75 million donation to Tulane Athletics from longtime Tulane supporters Libby and Robert Alexander.

“The Alexander family is excited to support the development of Tulane varsity sailing and CSNO, which embraces aspiring sailors from all backgrounds,” alumna and Tulane Board Member Libby Alexander (NC ’84), and her husband Robert Alexander said in a joint statement. “The new facility will enhance the current sailing home for Tulane while allowing even more people from the New Orleans area to enjoy the educational and recreational benefits of sailing on Lake Pontchartrain. We’re thrilled to assist Tulane and the city in continuing to experience the joy of this wonderful sport.”

Among the sailing team’s many successes was claiming the 2022 ICSA (Intercollegiate Sailing Association) Open Dinghy National Championship.

“Tulane sailing has gone from a club sport to championship caliber in such a short period of time. This is due, in large part, to the support and commitment the Alexanders have made to our student-athletes, as well as the sailing community throughout New Orleans,” Tulane University President Michael A. Fitts said. “This beautiful new home is indicative of the Alexanders’ mission to make the sport of sailing open and accessible to all – from newcomers to national champions alike.”

The multipurpose center, which is wheelchair accessible, features a floating dock and hoist to launch and retrieve boats as well as eight slips where the keelboat fleet is docked. In addition, it has classrooms suited for year-round STEM and maritime career development programs as well as sailing instruction courses. The building replaces a temporary office and storage space that CSNO used for its educational and outreach programs.

“We are extremely grateful to Libby and Robert Alexander for their generous gift to make this venue possible,” said Tulane University Athletic Director David Harris. “We are excited to work with our partners at Community Sailing to provide this state-of-the-art venue for our student-athletes as well as aspiring sailors in our community. This effort continues to emphasize our commitment to excellence in athletics and providing the best for our teams.”

Head sailing coach Charles Higgins is equally thrilled, saying it will take Tulane sailing to a new level of excellence.

“The new boathouse represents the promise of an exceptionally enhanced experience for the program,” he said. “Having a place to call home on Lake Pontchartrain will take our program to new heights. We are forever grateful to Libby and Robert for their continued dedication and support of Tulane sailing.”

CSNO has hosted the Green Wave sailing program since it was first established as a varsity sport through a $4.32 million gift from the Alexanders. The support of the Alexanders and other donors helped build CSNO’s bulkhead, slips and temporary facility as well as buy boats, a hoist and other equipment for the site.

Libby Alexander, a member of the club sailing team at Tulane, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the university in 1984. As CEO of Connolly Healthcare, she helped build the company from the ground up into an industry leader in payment integrity solutions, ultimately serving as CEO of the parent company Connolly, Inc., where Robert Alexander served as chief information officer. Connolly, Inc., later became Cotiviti which it is known as today.