We are now half way through our summer 2018 junior season, with our fifth week just completed.

This was a week of progress for many of our sailors, with Nathaniel Hoyle and Chris Orne moving from morning Opti to afternoon Tech as part of their transition to 420s. Both Chris and Nathaniel have grown in skill and confidence and embraced the challenge of a more powerful boat in the stronger afternoon breeze.

Within our morning program, we saw Ella Cain, Natalie Mayotte, Lucas Tung and Sebastian Tung make the first steps towards the afternoon while being promoted from beginner to intermediate Opti.

After participating in both a sail on the Naval Academy's TP 52 and a J-80 during the Foundation Cup Regatta, Neil Rockey has continued to seek opportunities to grow his skills and sail aboard differing boats. New to the 420 just two weeks ago, Neil is focused on learning how to fly spinnaker and jumped at an opportunity to sail aboard J-80 Sky Rocket during Wednesday evening races. The smiles said it all.

Apprentice Instructors Ella Beauregard and Claudia Stedt continue to lead our growing Mini Mariners group towards comfort in and on the water amongst smiles and laughter. As our youngest will-be sailors, our Mini Mariner Program is designed for 6-8 year olds to turn fear of the water into healthy respect while learning terminology and knots as well as the basics of sailing and rowing. Each day features a lesson, an on the water activity, and a craft or game. This week a row into town for ice cream capped off a week that included sailing on our Boothbay Harbor One Design and learning to capsize an Opti safely.

For many of our sailors, the highlight of the the week came on Friday when they sailed to Southport for a barbecue hosted by the Junior Committee Chair for all Junior Program members and their families. During class on Friday, a fleet of Techs and 420s made the sail to Ebenecook Harbor in Southport. Other than a planned tow through the gut and under the bridge, the sailors made the trip under their own power and were greeted with games and food. Rath Schoenthal is largely responsible for getting the fun started down on the waterfront, starting the jumps off the dock that many others were happy to follow. A special thanks is in order for the parent volunteers who helped to coordinate the land based activities and to all of the instructors and apprentices who stayed late to tow the boats home at the end of the day.

This upcoming week we will host Tech Racing on Monday, send sailors to a MIRC at PYC and then host other clubs at our first (hopefully annual) adventure sailing day.