SEATTLE – Super shifty weather stymied Bainbridge High sailors as BHS finished fifth at the Northwest District of the Interscholastic Sailing Association’s Fleet Racing Championship, held recently at Sail Sand Point in Seattle.

Olypmia was the big winner at the two-day championships, which saw the top 20 schools competing for the district championship trophy and the opportunity to attend the Mallory National Championship in Fleet Racing to be held at Clear Lake, Texas, this year. The Northwest District is one of eight in the country operating under the umbrella of the Interscholastic Sailing Association, which is the national governing body for high school sailing.

The weather was cloudy and rainy, as in the far too typical traditions of the Northwest, super light and shifty conditions prevailed.

Lots of time was spent floating around waiting for a suitable breeze, BHS team officials said, and several huge direction shifts caused the race committees to abandon some of the races.

Still, the sailors were all patient, and the racing super serious as the teams vied to become national candidates. Varsity sailors completed only five sets of races over the regatta.

Olympia showed great prowess, winning both the varsity regatta and the junior varsity events, and celebrated by dumping each other into the lake.

Orcas finished second in the varsity regatta and will be the second team to sail in Texas. Charles Wright was third; Bainbridge finished fifth.

During the Saturday and Sunday regatta April 28-29, the course area of the JV group had slightly better wind, completing six sets of races.

Bainbridge Team 1 had a strong showing there, earning a second only three points out of first. BHS Team 2 was 11th in the 24-boat fleet.