Southport Junior Yacht Club Sailing Foundation

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 3:00pm

Semisonic’s “Closing Time” plays in my head as I write my second to last article of the season. Although the summer is drawing to a close, many sailors are just beginning their adventures on the water. This morning was perfect for swimmers, and the lucky kids who enjoyed it also enjoyed the perfect morning for a sail. Eli Rossi was the only new sailor who swam today, although he was joined by Jack Hurd, Nate Phippen, Brooks Baker, and Morgan and Liam Donahue who swam today and will enter the program next year.

The morning class participated in “Pirate Day” last Friday. The sailors took motor boats out to Powderhorn Island and searched for a treasure in the sand and along the rocks. The treasure was found in record time. The day is full of pirate dress up and bad pirate puns from the instructors.

As the intermediate Opti sailors return from a successful Maine States regatta, others depart to sail in the annual Harraseeket regatta. Ryan Peterson ended Maine State regatta in 32nd place for championship fleet. He was joined in “champ fleet” by Will Moen in 35th, Brodie Snyder in 39th, Sean Morrison in 40th, Blake Donnellan in 42nd, and Sawyer Bates in 46th. Of the Green Fleet sailors, Lucy Gauthier finished in 3rd place with Peter Bauman in 9th, Ava Gauthier in 10th, Luke Donnellan in 11th, and Oliver Grant in 12th. The sailors representing SYC in the Harraseeket regatta, Will Moen, Ella Freund, Sawyer Bates, Brodie Snyder, Luke Thress, and Peter Bauman left Tuesday, Aug. 8 for the races.

The Advanced Club 420 sailors had another race day to add to the August series of races last week. Max Freund and Eliza Goodell finished the race day in first place, with three first place finishes in a row. Tia Freund and Jenna Peterson were in second and Charlie Apolinsky and Abbie Peterson were in third. Harraseeket also hosts a Club 420 regatta where skipper Max Freund and crew Eliza Goodell, Charlie Apolinsky and Abbie Peterson, Martha Rand and Sara Morrison, and Dane Phippen and Abby Thress will represent SYC.

In terms of events, the Junior Yacht Club is busy until the final days of the summer. Last Thursday was “Baked Goods Bingo” with close to fifty donations of prizes from local families. This Thursday is the final Ice Cream Social with $4 bowls and $1 refills. The SYC Banquet is also coming up on Aug. 18. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall, and the $10 tickets will be for sale Thursday Aug. 10 at the Ice Cream Social and will be for sale before and after sailing classes from Friday the 11th until Thursday the 17th.