Lincoln Academy sailor Ella Beauregard of Southport and Boothbay’s Hamilton Barclay led the Rockland Community Sailing (RCS) team to its second win of the season at the Pen-Bay #2 Regatta in Castine on May 19. The Pen-Bay Series was created in 2016 to afford more opportunities for youth sailors to race in Maine high school events.

The local sailors combined score of 36 points bested MDI (58), Islesboro (62), Boothbay Region Sailing Club (87), and Stockton Harbor Sailing Club (160). Fifteen boats sailed in a format adopted by the Pen-Bay League to maximize racing. The Stockton Harbor Sailing Club hosted the Pen-Bay Regatta at Maine Maritime Academy (MMA).

This was the second regatta of the Pen Bay series, the first was held in Boothbay April 27, also won by Rockland Community Sailing. Teams from Boothbay, Islesboro, MDI, Rockland, and Stockton Springs competed under gray skies. Camden Hills High School and George Stevens Academy missed this regatta due to scheduling conflicts. The Pen-Bay League provides competition for teams in lieu of traveling to SailMaine in Portland; 38 young sailors competed including 10 from the Boothbay peninsula.

The regatta was delayed while the wind filled to the minimum 3 knots. A light rain accompanied the wind which never exceeded 12 knots with small oscillating shifts. The current flooded in the morning nut turned before afternoon racing resumed.

Islesboro’s Emily Lau started strong winning the first of two races. RCS’ Barclay, sailing with new crew Nate Fox, was on the course side at the start (OCS) of race 1. They returned to start working their way up to finish 2nd. Beauregard, sailing with Claudia Roberts, finished 6th in race 1. The second race saw a tight start with all boats on the line going as fast as 5 knots of wind and the last of the flood tide would permit. Beauregard started near the pin and led the first leg to round the mark with Islesboro’s Lau close astern. Lau gained on the right side of the leg and won the race by a boat length.

In the third race, Barclay won the pin end of the line and led the entire way around the course. The sailors went in for lunch, many returned with hot coffee after a quick trip to shore.

Races 4 and 5 saw RCS pass Islesboro for the lead and MDI close in on Islesboro. New Boothbay Region Sailing Club varsity sailors, Arden Carleton and Toby Clarkson, shined with top five finishes after the break and took fifth place overall (32 points).

In race 6, Barclay won the boat end of the line, with Beauregard to leeward also in clear air. Barclay and Beauregard tacked their boats on each shift to round the weather mark 1-2. Barclay’s lead grew at the finish to end the regatta with 14 points. Beauregard was in second most of the final race until Boothbay fouled her within six boat lengths from the 2nd weather mark. Boothbay’s Carleton promptly exonerated the foul with a penalty turn but then MDI tacked to starboard within the zone causing Beauregard to touch the mark in the ebbing tide. Beauregard exonerated the touch with a spin while MDI carried on. This dropped Beauregard back to 3 boats to finish 4th tying Isleboro’s Lau in the A boat with 22 points and seal the regatta victory for Rockland.

The final race of the season is MDI’s Great Harbor Regatta May 25. MDI High School Sailing team has secured MMA’s waterfront facilities in Castine to hold the final race. ockland’s RCS holds a 3 point lead over Islesboro going into the final regatta of the Pen-Bay series.