BHS sails to second place

Published 4:15 pm Sunday, April 24, 2016

WESTSOUND, Orcas Island – The Bainbridge High varsity sailing team won second place in the Islands Cup Regatta.

The regatta was held at Westsound, Orcas Island, on April 16-17 and 35 teams representing schools from Washington and Oregon participated in the competition in fleet racing. North Kitsap High took first.

Seventeen members of the BHS sailing team competed in the Islands Cup Regatta.

Bright and sunny conditions prevailed during the Friday practice session and weekend racing, with light to moderate winds from the south southeast and north during the sailing. Some large shifts in wind direction scrambled the fleet in many of the races, but the best sailors were diligent in anticipating and recovering from these changes and stood out in the 35-boat fleet.

Representing the varsity sailors were Captain Caelan Juckniess and Blake Bentzen at the helm and crews Sophia Kasper and Nicole Sanford.

Bainbridge sailors also participated in an additional three teams at the Orcas venue.

Bainbridge Blue sailed very well and won the non-varsity section of the regatta, including besting varsity teams from eight other schools. Blue was sailed by skippers Olivia Mitchell and Captain Karl Anderson, with crews Elizabeth Rolfes and Kat Smith. Their finish was a ninth overall.

Bainbridge Gold showed much improvement over previous regattas, earning twentieth place. Harry Saliba and Sophie Lewis were at the helm with Amanda Gilmore and Sophie Crandell as crew.

Finally, Bainbridge Stripes put forth a valiant effort with some of the newer helms-persons on the team, and got some valuable experience in variable conditions, as well as exposure to large-fleet racing. Sailors included Quinn Ring, Daniel Rentz, Jack Sobeck, Camden Lee and Roark Coggon.

Coach Susan Kaseler said hopes are high that the team will qualify for participation in the Mallory Fleet Racing National Championship in Charleston, South Carolina.