Sailors in the Junior Program were treated to warm, sunny skies and moderate winds during what was undoubtedly the most beautiful week of the summer.

Monday night was the annual Family Potluck Barbecue and Talent Show, which featured musical and athletic contributions by Helmut Dungan, Parker Elkins, Gray Ferris, Ryan McCann and Tess McComiskey. Morning class sailors ventured as far as Tumbler Island as they developed their boat-handling skills in Optimist dinghies.

Last Wednesday morning, a fleet of model boats, constructed from buoys, bags and bottles arrived at the yacht club. Built by several students in the morning and afternoon classes, these boats sailed (or drifted) from dock to dock in the Model Boat Regatta. Results of the Friday morning race series are as follows: first place went to Nickolai LaLiberty, second to Ryan Russell and third to Faith Blethen.

On Friday afternoon, 12 junior sailors from the Southport Yacht Club arrived to participate for the second time in our Friday race series, bumping up the fleet size to nearly 30 boats!

This was the perfect practice for the upcoming Junior Olympic Regatta, which takes place at the Northeast Harbor Sailing School July 19-20. Southport’s Andrew Turley took first place in the races, followed closely by Jacqueline van der Veen of Boothbay in second and Southport’s David Wollins in third. Thanks again to SYC for stopping by for some friendly competition!

The afternoon also included the second race in the Family 420 Friday series, where junior sailors and their families sail our double-handed boats in friendly competition. Ryan and Bob McCann took home the blue ribbon for the evening, followed by tennis instructor Chris Giles and sailing coach Sara Mac Swanson, and in third place, sailing instructor Thomas Clark and junior sailor Jacqueline van der Veen. Thank you to BHYC Adult Sailing Director Geoff McCuskey for his help running this event!