Castine—The George Stevens Academy sailing team hosted teams from Maine and around New England over the weekend in the Downeast Regatta.
The weekend saw sailors take to Castine Harbor in gusting conditions on Saturday, which caused several boats to capsize, including the George Stevens Academy team of Ryan Mitchell and Clementine Bannon. The duo spent about 15 minutes in the water trying to right their boat, according to head coach Andy Stephenson, with the help of Maine Maritime Academy Sailing Master JM Payne. They did not finish the race, but were able to get their boat up and to the dock, and take their next racing rotation “without a hitch,” said Stephenson.
Sailors on the George Stevens Academy sailing team work together to navigate the waters during the Downeast Regatta on May 11-12 in Castine. Photo courtesy of Ryan Mitchell
“Everyone who sailed that day had the same task, to work together to hold the boat down, either by hiking, feathering, or easing their sails in the puffs,” he added.
Overall the Eagles finished 14th out of the 19 teams that competed during the weekend. The Jim Modisette Memorial Trophy, dedicated to Jim Modisette of Penobscot, who started the event in 2000 and died in 2012, went to Belmont Hill School from Massachusetts.
The annual regatta is sponsored by George Stevens Academy, with Maine Maritime Academy as host, supplying the boats, the committee boat and the launch that brings crew, coaches and spectators from the MMA waterfront out to the float that serves as base.
Stephenson said that he was pleased with the way his team worked during the two days of sailing.
“I was very proud of them. They faced the challenges without complaint or hesitation,” he said.