420 sailboats are ready for action at the Downeast Regatta. Photo by Monique Labbe
CASTINE—The George Stevens Academy sailing team took a fourth-place team finish in the Downeast Regatta at Maine Maritime Academy on Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15.
Hattie Slayton waits for wind in the Downeast Regatta. Photo by Monique Labbe
The regatta was the Maine State Championship event, hosting seven schools from Maine and three schools from the rest of New England for the two-day competition, including Cheverus High School, Mount Desert Island High School, Camden Hills Regional High School and Tabor Academy from Marion, Mass.
The team from Tabor Academy took home the Modisette trophy, and Yarmouth Academy took the Maine championship.
George Stevens Academy racers took third, seventh, ninth, 10th, 12th, 14th and 17th-place finishes over the two days.
Shifting, if not strong, wind challenges sailors at the Downeast Regatta. Photo by Monique Labbe
“We had beautiful weather for two days,” said George Stevens Academy coach Bill Neufeld. “We had good wind and light wind, big wind shifts which kept the race committee busy.”
Neufeld said that he was impressed with how all the teams from Maine raced during the regatta.
“All the Maine schools sailed terrific. Considering our short season that is something,” said Neufeld. “Our friends from MDI did a great job coming in third of the Maine schools.”
The sailing team returns to the Maine Maritime Academy Waterfront for the first round of the Regatta Wells Cup on Wednesday, May 25.