An approaching frontal system sent Saturday's Development Team Regatta at Portland's Sail Maine into a delay waiting for wind that was supposed to gradually increase all day under cloudy skies. Instead the Boothbay Region Sailing Club sailors found themselves biding time drinking apple cider and tossing sandbags and wondering when the wind would pick up. Such are the vagaries of sailboat racing.

Principal Race Officer Doug Baker of SailMaine announced at the skippers meeting at 9:30 that with the glassy water as far as they could see no racing would take place until the wind picked up. Meanwhile the sailors waited, played games, and asked when do you think we will get started.

At 1 p.m., Baker called the racing for the day but not before two Boothbay sailors got on the water and showed how to move the boat around without much wind.

The team prepares to travel to Newport Rhode Island for the Halloween Howl this weekend at SailNewport. Sailors Liam Cullina (Lincoln Academy) and Nate Graves (Boothbay Region High School) are paired in the boat Addie Rose, while Gabby Boord and Nate Rideout (Boothbay schools) will race Maxie, and Ella Beauregard and Hamilton Barclay will be sailing the appropriately named Ella.

The sailors can be seen practicing with spinnakers and trapezes in blustery winds this week from 3:30-6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.