OLYMPIA – In an early season regatta in Olympia, Bainbridge sailors showed exceptional concentration and determination, producing two teams in strong finishes in the fleet race competition.

Very light and challenging wind with cloudy skies were the backdrop for 34 boats sailing in A and B sections for combined regatta scores on the first day of the regatta (the scores will factor a maximum of 10 percent into the determination of the season’s district championship). The second day of races saw soaking rain and no wind, so races were postponed and finally called off for Sunday, March 20.

Bainbridge High Team Captains Caelan Juckniess and Karl Anderson with crews Elizabeth Rolfes and Kat Smith sailed consistently well and finished the regatta in third place with 41 points.

Regatta winner Orcas was exceptionally successful, earning only 21 points, and Lincoln, of Oregon, was second with 29 points.

The BHS team designated to represent “varsity” for this regatta, Blake Bentzen and Olivia Mitchell at the helm and Nicole Sanford and Sophia Kasper as crews, finished in fourth with 42 points, only one point out of third.

In the scoring system, teams not designated “varsity” will be dropped, and BHS will carry a third place forward into the calculations for district champion, along with a first-place result earned in the Cascadia Cup regatta from fall 2015. Currently BHS retains the advantage.

Perhaps the most exciting result for Bainbridge was the effort of the underclassmen who sailed a third team representing BHS.

New skippers Sophie Lewis and Sophie Crandell and crews Will Price, Daniel Rentz, Camden Lee and sub Roark Coggon showed tremendous promise, their endeavors producing a 25th-place finish in the 34-boat fleet.