BOOTHBAY HARBOR — The Rockland Community Sailing team won the first regatta of the season in the Pen-Bay League under perfect conditions.

“This is what it’s all about, that was the best sailing yet in the league,” Isleboro/Big Tree Boating head coach Mike Horn said, in a press release.

Twenty-four sailors from Boothbay Region Sailing Club, Camden Hills High School, Isleboro/Big Tree Boating, and Rockland Community Sailing, raced Sunday, April 23 at Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. The first Pen-Bay League event of 2017 will be followed on May 6 with a team race at the annual Hospice Regatta hosted by the Apprenticeshop.

The Pen Bay League began last year with the coaches from Rockland, MDI, George Stevens Academy, Camden Hills, Isleboro, and Boothbay Region Sailing Club with the idea of maximizing the number of races in nearby venues. Several teams have sailors (some still in middle school) from different schools which limits participation in New England Scholastic Sailing Association events. The Pen Bay League gives young sailors on the mid-coast an opportunity to compete in events not inhibited by rules of NESSA.

Boats are equally matched and rotations are minimized so that sailors can get 10 races per day compared with four to six races at other events. Venues rotate between Rockland, MDI, and Boothbay. Host sailors’ families provide food and drink, while the frequent competition enhances the camaraderie and sportsmanship among sailors from different teams.

Three races began in light, fickle winds shifting from North to West. The Boothbay A boat sailed by Ella Beauregard and Hamilton Barclay aided by local knowledge and light weight won races one and two and taking second in race three. As the seabreeze came in from the South and grew to 16 knots, the pair had to work hard to win the 4th race and looked like they would romp to a series victory. The Isleboro sisters Emily and Sophie Lau won race three while Rockland’s Galloway triplets (Jillian, Peter, and Warren) came in first, second and fourth place in race five. Isleboro’s sibling boat came right back winning race six ending any notion of one team winning with ease.

As the wind and seas built most sailors found smaller waves in the lee of Tumbler island on the upwind leg. In races six to 10, the B Boats came into their own as both Rockland and Isleboro both won races. Proving that depth on a team makes all sailors better, Rockland’s C boat won a race too. The Boothbay A boat took second in race 10 to seal a four point win over the Isleboro A boat, with the Rockland A boat two points further back. The overall win went to Rockland as their B boat sailed by Warren Galloway and Nathan Roberts had a commanding lead in the B division 14 points better than the Isleboro B boat sailed by Rylee Sienkiewicz and Lake Lindelof.

The series continues May 6 at The Apprenticeshop in Rockland.

Reach the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.