Orcas high school sailors win Doublehanded District champs

Fourteen schools and over 150 sailors made the trek to Orcas Island to participate in the 2011 NWISA Doublehanded District Championships on April 15-17. Most teams arrived on Friday, which was cold and grey, with the remains of a late spring snow still clinging to the top of Turtleback Mountain. Forty boats were quickly rigged and practice races were run late afternoon on West Sound in a shifty easterly wind.

April 18, 2011 1:40 pm

Contributed by high school sailing coach Burke Thomas.

Fourteen schools and over 150 sailors made the trek to Orcas Island to participate in the 2011 NWISA Doublehanded District Championships on April 15-17. Most teams arrived on Friday, which was cold and grey, with the remains of a late spring snow still clinging to the top of Turtleback Mountain. Forty boats were quickly rigged and practice races were run late afternoon on West Sound in a shifty easterly wind.

Saturday dawned with overcast skies and a light westerly that refused to fill in; after holding on the water for a couple hours a cold northwest breeze filled in, bringing clearing skies. Fourteen races were completed in the Varsity fleet and twelve in the JV fleet in winds ranging from 4-18 knots. At the end of Saturday’s racing the Orcas team had opened up a 15 point lead over second place Bainbridge, with third place Sehome 24 points off the pace.

Sunday brought clearing and light northerly winds, with ten more races completed in Varsity and eight in JV before the wind shut off for the day. Tight, competitive racing was observed on both the Varsity and JV courses. Congratulations to the Orcas sailors for winning both the Varsity and JV fleets. (Click to see scores).

Thanks to OIYC and Camp Four Winds for their help in hosting the regatta and all the Orcas parents who kept everyone well fed. Also thank you to Bob Toombs providing the Endeavour for Varsity rotation, head judge Dick Rose, Ian Wareham, Varsity PRO, Scott Boye JV PRO and the gang who manned all the mark set/safety boats that made this regatta happen. Thanks to Bainbridge, Bellingham, Central Kitsap, Friday Harbor and Port Townsend for bringing boats!