The Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club junior tennis program had another fun week of tennis for the July 31 week. On Monday the courts were full for our morning session, followed by an eager to learn group of kids for the afternoon clinic. Tuesday, Aug. 1, CCIA came over to play us in a club match. CCIA took the lead at our home courts, but it was a fun match. We finished matchplay and the players joined together for a lunch buffet.

An interclub match was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 8 at Squirrel Island against Juniper Point, CCIA and Squirrel Island.

For our in-house Friday tournament, Nick Berns placed first for the morning clinic, followed by Ava Morse in second place. For the junior beginner class, George Szele placed first for his bracket and Lydia Currier placed first in her division.

The tennis staff is looking forward to another great week of tennis!

As BHYC Junior sailors began a Midcoast August schedule with hazy sun and moist fog, the program enjoyed some welcome news. For the sixth time since 2001, a Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Junior won the Maine State Opti Championships. Previous Maine State Opti Champions from Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club include two-time winner Nick Vos (2001-02), Ian McDermid (2011), Jax van der Veen (2012), and Payton Thompson (2013). They are joined by 2017 Champion Hamilton Barclay. The 2017 Maine State Opti Championships were hosted by Portland Yacht Club. Hamilton had a commanding lead at the end of the regatta and as a result of his hard work and dedication BHYC will host the championship next summer of 2018.

BHYC sent eight sailors and two coaches to the event. Della Hahn, who also sails with the regional high school team, won the event's sportsmanship award, by never failing to thank the race committee or lend a hand to another sailor. We are very proud of Della who is always cheerful. Like any competitive sport, much can be learned from sailing and seeing our sailors recognized with both the regatta win and the honor of a sportsmanship award.

Back at home our morning Mini Mariner program is a hit with our youngest sailors. Apprentice instructor Ella Beauregard has spent many of her mornings rowing, sailing, and introducing these young guys and gals to the water, instilling her love of the wind and water in our next generation has helped to turn fears into fun.

Our afternoon 420 sailors have enjoyed a week of favorable winds while refining their spinnaker skills while our Opti sailors put their upwind sailing to the test with a long trip out and around Burnt Island later in the week.