The Friends of Bainbridge Island High School Sailing, nonprofit organization that raises funds to support the Bainbridge High School sailing team, christened six new 420E sailboats last weekend on Eagle Harbor.

High school sailing team members, parents, island sailors, and public officials were on hand to witness the event on Saturday, April 15 at the public dock at Waterfront Park.

“This event is the culmination of three years of fundraising to purchase the boats and two transporting trailers,” said Leonard Rolfes Jr., the president of the Friends of Bainbridge Island High School Sailing.

The group raised more than $42,000 toward the $54,000 purchase price through various fundraising efforts. The remaining funds were raised by selling six surplus boats owned by the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District.

In an arrangement established in the mid 1990s, the nonprofit purchases the boats, and the park district owns and maintains them. The boats are shared by the two organizations, and will be used by the park district for their sailing program in the summer and fall as well as the high school sailing team.

The Bainbridge High sailing team is the first in the district to adopt the 420E design, in hopes of promoting the fleet in this area.

A few individuals were highlighted at the christening event: Susie Kaseler, Bainbridge High’s longstanding and outstanding sailing coach, and her husband, Dave. Additionally, the husband-and-wife duo Carolyn Klassen and Craig Juckniess, parents of 2016 senior and co-captain Caelan Juckniess, were the “driving force behind the fundraising campaign, doing a lion’s share of the work needed to have this day” Rolfes said.

The community organizations that were recognized for contributing to this effort include the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, Bainbridge Community Foundation, Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation, One Call for All, and Eagle Harbor Yacht Club.

Additionally, the sailors and parents have engaged in several fundraising efforts over the course of three years.

Team members, including co-captains Harry Saliba and Elizabeth Rolfes, christened each boat with cedar boughs, as “a sign of respect for the Suquamish Tribe and other tribes who plied the waters before us.” Sparkling cider was also used to christen the vessels.