The team got to see and experience the New Orleans culture.

Bainbridge High School was one of twelve schools in the country selected to participate in the prestigious regatta known as the National Team Racing Championships over Memorial Day weekend.

The event was held at Lake Ponchartrain at the distinguished Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans, the second oldest yacht club in the United States.

The club, whose facilities were completely destroyed when Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, now operates from a temporary clubhouse, and has been active in hosting larger regattas.

The sailors’ enthusiasm for sailing in the face of difficulties was impressive, as there were four separate regattas operating at one time out of the club that weekend.

The regatta involved two days of good racing in 15 knots on Lake Ponchartrain.

The lake as a whole is shallow, about 13 feet deep, and muddy. The few boats that capsized wore stains from the lake bottom at the tops of their sails, like badges of disgrace.

Because of the lack of depth, the wind quickly builds waves, or chop, which rebounds off of sea walls in a confused pattern.

With the strong winds, chop, and the 420 class boats – which Bainbridge sailors were unfamiliar with – all combined to handicap the team in their performance in the regatta.

Nevertheless, the sailors persevered and competed with good sportsmanship and reasonable exhibition of skill, improving as the regatta progressed.

The first day saw 66 races with each of the twelve teams sailing against each of the other teams.

Tabor Academy of Marion, Mass., was undefeated while Bainbridge lost all its matches.

On the second day, an additional 28 races were run. After four re-sailed races, the fleet was divided into Gold, Silver, and Bronze brackets.

The Gold bracket sailed a double round robin, with each school matched against each other twice for the Baker Championship Trophy.

Tabor, the originator of the championship, emerged the winner with 15 wins against just two losses.

Bainbridge sailed in the bronze division and finished in twelfth place overall with 14 losses.

The team was able to experience some of the culture of New Orleans during their visit, with Creole food and music and a visit to Mardi Gras World, where parade floats and figures are constructed.

The team also visited Algiers, where the first slave colony in the country settled, and took walking tours of downtown.

Damage from Katrina is still rampant and the ruined homes with spray painted body counts and full graveyards are very moving. The area still needs a lot of rebuilding, but the people are buoyant.

Head coach Susah Kaesler writes that the team was “happy to represent the Northwest to the best of our ability and to contribute in a small way to the economy of the region.”

Full results of the regatta can be found at www.highschoolsailingusa.com.