On May 11 -12, more than 60 high school sailors from throughout Maine competed in the Down East Open and Maine High School Fleet Racing Championships at Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) in Castine.

The weather was in the sailors’ favor as partially sunny skies and winds between 4-13 mph held throughout the two-day event.

Sailors were hosted for this prestigious event by George Stevens Academy (GSA) and all on and off-water accommodations provided by MMA.

Saturday’s racing kicked off with the First A Division race held in a light breeze from the east. The wind then shifted to the southwest and although somewhat shifty picked up to 10 -12 mph for the remainder of the day’s racing.

The race committee, under Peter Clapp and MMA Varsity Sailing Coach Patrick DiLalla, was kept busy shifting marks on the race course to accommodate the changing conditions. At days’ end, Camden Hills and Oceanside high schools were one and two in the 13 boat fleet followed by Islesboro, Cherevus and Greeley.

Day Two started out overcast in very light southwest winds resulting in slow racing and a race abandonment mid-morning. The sun then came out, the breeze came back and steadied in the 8-12 mph range, treating sailors to excellent conditions for the remainder of the regatta.

The racing throughout the day was very close as Camden Hills, Oceanside and GSA battled it out for top honors. At the close of the final race GSA captured the Down East Open Regatta honors by a single point while Camden Hills secured the Maine High School Fleet Racing Championship.

Members of the victorious Camden Hills team included Charlie Conover and Ava Tobias, A Division and Elliot Condon, Teague Buchanan, Oliver Lee and Mabel Wight in B Division.

Additional participants included; Oceanside’s Emmett Dorr and Sarah Vallance in A Division and Henry Weymouth and Sophia Skrivanich in B Division, and Islesboro’s Alma Bewsher and Rosie Brimley in A Division with Eloise Mooney, Harper Conover, Ford Glotzel and Luke Neve competing in B Division.

Of special note, Oceanside’s Henri Weymouth was recognized with the regatta’s Sportsmanship Trophy.