Monday, June 25 kicked off the beginning of an exciting summer at Southport Yacht Club with seven newcomers braving the chilly waters to take the swim test. We would like to welcome new sailors of Week A: Wyeth Talmon, Silas Kaler, Liam Scott, Marloe Recoing-Tallen, Beatrix Recoing-Tallen, Maggie Doyle, and Jack Castonia. On Monday, July 2 there were two new sailors joining the SYC community for Week B: Katherine Kershaw and Corbin Corwell.

Last week, the afternoon class elected the junior officers for the 2018 season. The commodore of the SJYCSF is Dane Phippen, with Tia Freund as vice commodore. Sara Morrison was voted in the position of treasurer, and Elsa Bates was elected as secretary. Officers will provide leadership, organize and host bingo games and ice cream socials, manage funds, and run the Clynk recycling program. The officers collected bingo prizes as their first tasks in their new roles. Thank you to our outstanding community businesses who have generously donated prizes: Sherman’s, Janson’s, Wannawaf, Eventide, Two Salty Dogs, Pier 1 Pizza, Southport General Store and many more. We hope to see everyone Thursday, July 5 at 7 p.m. for the first bingo event of the season.

Last Friday was an eventful day both in the morning and afternoon classes. The usual Friday Fun Day was skipped because of the outstanding weather, also known by SYC sailors as a BMD, Beautiful Maine Day. At first, the wind was lacking and the turnabouts drifted slowly out of the harbor. Soon the wind picked up from the south and carried the sailors up Pratt’s Island shore. It was a beautiful morning to end our first week of the summer.

In the afternoon, the intermediate Optis had a Friday race day with five competitive races. Conner McWhan ended in first place, Ryan Peterson came in a close second, and Sawyer Linehan ended in third.

The advanced 420 sailors got back into the groove of racing to begin the July series. Crews worked hard to keep the boats flat in the gusty wind as they headed up to the windward mark. After four races, Dane Phippen and Abby Thress earned first place, Nate Rideout and Jenna Peterson earned second, and Charlie Apolinski and Kate Wickline earned third.

Everyone was happy to be back at SYC, and we are looking forward to a great sailing season.