Ten-year-old sailor Maggie Toombs beat out competitors from Vancouver Lake, Gig Harbor and Orcas Island this season to win the the 2011 Northwest Youth Racing Circuit Open Bic class.

“The faster the better,” said Maggie’s grandmother Gail Toombs of Maggie’s sailing style. “That girl has no fear of getting wet.”

Maggie competed at four two-day NWYRC regattas this summer, sailing in many races.

Sailing coach Burke Thomas said seven other Orcas junior sailors competed in at least one regatta.

“It is very exciting to see the junior sailors who have taken the summer Sail Orcas junior lessons begin racing around the Northwest,” he said. “This is the first season that Orcas junior sailors have traveled to regattas and I am excited about how that will build our team in the years ahead.”

Orcas High School alumni Sam Parish and Taylor Smith worked hard instructing the junior sailors all summer, offering racing sessions to some of the juniors.

OHS alumni Nate Averna and Jake White continue to give back to the sailing program by heading up the on-water instruction for the middle school exploratory sailing classes this fall.