The BHYC Junior Sailing Program enjoyed another full week of beautiful weather and busy schedules. In the morning class races, Anna Penkiunas took first place, followed by Nikolai LaLiberty, and Mia Penkiunas. On Friday afternoon, the yacht club hosted a J-boat only race as a preliminary part of the Boothbay Harbor Regatta. the afternoon class participants piled onto the club’s J-22 keelboats, Quite and Pirouette, as well as the Clark family’s J-80 for some big boat racing out by Squirrel Island.

BHYC was well represented at the Junior Olympics in Northeast Harbor. Regatta participants were Optimist Dinghy sailors Aidan Clark, Caleb Gray, Matthew and Meredith McCuskey Markus and Ryan Russell, Emma and Jacqueline van der Veen. Katherine Clark and Corinne Poitras competed in the double-handed Club 420 class.

In the green (beginner) Optimist fleet, BHYC sailors Markus Russell and Emma van der Veen took 10th and 11th places respectively, followed by Ryan Russell in 24th. the very competitive championship opti fleet was where most BHYC sailors participated. 13th place went to Matt McCuskey, followed by Aidan Clark in 16th, Caleb Gray in 18th, Jacqueline van der Veen in 22nd and Meredith McCuskey in 24th. their first regatta sailing together, Katherine Clark and Corinne Poitras placed 29th in the 420 class. Special thanks to BHYC coaches Sara Mac Swanson and Colin Phelan as well as parents and grandparents Sarah Clark, Mac and Blair Gray, Mary Jo Poitras JH Russell, and Mike van der Veen for their hard work and support! Everyone involved had a great time and learned a lot from the experience.

This week’s Family 420 Friday included some new faces and a great time was had all. In first place for the day were father Robert and son Ryan McCann, followed closely by father Richard and son Alex Boes and the brother and sister duo, Spencer and Sarah Gray.