HIGH SCHOOL SAILING - Large Photo Gallery Included

Mon, 05/02/2016 - 14:54

Patrick DiLalla

The Apprenticeshop hosted the Breakwater Regatta on May 1 in Rockland Harbor. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

(Photo by Ron Hawkes)

The Apprenticeshop hosted the Breakwater Regatta on May 1 in Rockland Harbor. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

(Photo by Ron Hawkes)

ROCKLAND — A gray and chilly Rockland Harbor was brightened up with spring High School Sailing action Sunday, May 1. The Apprenticeshop hosted the sixth edition of the Breakwater Blast, for 11 teams from all over Maine and Vermont to compete in the Regatta (Northern Vermont, Cheverus High School, Boothbay Regional High School, Searsport High School, George Stevens Academy, Rockland Community Sailing, Southern Maine High School, North Yarmouth Academy, Mount Desert High School, Camden Hills Regional High School, and Islesboro Central School). Fourteen boats were on the start line, the most ever for the event, and 12 races were completed in a cool and steady 10-15-knot southerly breeze.

The team from Northern Vermont, who drove five hours to the Midcoast from Lake Champlain on Saturday, came out in front thanks to a dominant performance in the B division by Isaac Goldman and Kathryn Bird, and a solid race by A division pair Ben Hunt and Lucia Pendolino.

Midcoast teams that practice at the Apprenticeshop took second, third, fourth and fifth places overall in the regatta. Camden Hills skipper Simon Morin and crews Abby Chamberlain, Emmet Acosta and Fiona Zizza claimed first place in the A division, and together, with B division skipper Thomas McClellan and crews Amanda Mirabile and Sawyer King, took second place overall.

Islesboro Central School finished in third place overall by staying consistently in the top half of the fleet. Seventh graders Rylee Sienkiewicz and Sophie Lau gave the fast Northern Vermonters a run for their money in the B division and ended up in a comfortable second place. Emily Lau and Ava Schlottman rebounded from a somewhat disastrous 19-point first set with two second places in the second set, and mid-fleet finishes in the final two A division races helped secure third place overall for the "She-gulls".

Volunteer power lends a great atmosphere to these events, and this year was no exception. The race committee was led by coach Peter Clapp and sailing director Tori Willauer, with help from Apprenticeshop students J.B. Bentes and Silas Rogers. Technical support was provided by veteran sailor Chris Schreiber and the Apprenticeshop's seamanship director, Terry Moore.

Parents of local sailors provided a heaping table-full of homemade snacks, which were greatly appreciated after a long day of racing. A resounding “thank you” goes out to all the coaches and sailors for making this a fantastic event.

High school racing continues Saturday, May 7, in Rockland with the Hospice Cup Team Race, with five teams sponsored by local businesses.