Rockland Community Sailing won the first regatta of the season in the Pen-Bay League under perfect conditions in Boothbay Harbor

Twenty-four sailors from Boothbay Region Sailing Club, Camden Hills High School, Isleboro/Big Tree Boating, and Rockland Community Sailing, raced Sunday, April 23 at Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. The first Pen-Bay League event of 2017 will be followed on May 6 with a team race at the annual Hospice Regatta hosted by the Apprenticeshop and Rockland Community Sailing.

The Pen Bay League began last year with the coaches from Rockland, MDI, George Stevens Academy, Camden Hills, Isleboro, and Boothbay Region Sailing Club with the idea of maximizing the number of races in nearby venues. Several teams have sailors (some still in middle school) from different schools which limits participation in New England Scholastic Sailing Association (NESSA) events. The Pen Bay League gives young sailors on the Midcoast an opportunity to compete in events not inhibited by rules of NESSA.

Boats are equally matched and rotations are minimized so that sailors can get 10 races per day compared with 4-6 races at other events.Venues rotate between Rockland, MDI, and Boothbay. Host sailors’ families provide food and drink, while the frequent competition enhances the camaraderie and sportsmanship among sailors from different teams.

Three races began in light, fickle winds shifting from North to West. The Boothbay A boat, sailed by Ella Beauregard and Hamilton Barclay aided by local knowledge and light weight, won races 1 and 2 and taking second in race 3. As the sea breeze came in from the South and grew to 16 knots, the pair had to work hard to win race 4 and looked like they would romp to a series victory. The Isleboro sisters, Emily and Sophie Lau, won race 3 while Rockland’s Galloway triplets (Jillian, Peter and Warren) came in 1st, 2nd and 4th in race 5. Isleboro’s sibling boat came right back winning race 6 ending any notion of one team winning with ease.

As the wind and seas built most sailors found smaller waves in the lee of Tumbler island on the upwind leg. In races 6-10, the B Boats came into their own as both Rockland and Isleboro both won races. Proving that depth on a team makes all sailors better, Rockland’s C boat won a race, too. The Boothbay A boat took 2nd in race 10 to seal a four-point win over the Isleboro A boat, with the Rockland A boat two points further back. The overall win went to Rockland as their B boat, sailed by Warren Galloway and Nathan Roberts, had a commanding lead in the B division, 14 points better than the Isleboro B boat sailed by Rylee Sienkiewicz and Lake Lindelof.

The series continues May 6 at Rockland.