CASTINE, Maine - Mariners Sailing hosted the final regattas of the season this weekend, finishing first in the Colgate Invite Fleet Race and the Spring Invite Fleet Race.
In the Spring Invite regatta, Maine Maritime Sailors Nathan Hyde (Saco, Maine), Amelia Griffith (Castine, Maine), Kyle Carse (Clinton, Conn.), Kenneth Deloe (Rochester, N.Y.), Jacob Peabody (Mount Desert Island, Maine), Edward Lenz (Deep River, Conn.), Henri Richardsson (Cohasset, Mass.), and Finn Weeden (Charlestown, R.I.) represented the Mariners. Racing began in a moderate 15-18kt south-westerly. In Smith Cove the breeze was shifty, with occasional puffs into the mid 20s. Mariners Sailors found success in these conditions, very adeptly connecting the pressure lines that were filling from both sides of the course. Each boat representing the Mariners had first-place finishes in the 10-boat fleet, with Richardsson and Weeden notching four first-place finishes on the day. The Mariners finished first and second in the fleet.
In the Colgate Invite, two teams Zachary York (Sewell, N.J.), Nalu Ho (Lahaina, Hawaii), Ella Beauregard (Southport Island, Maine), and David Estes (Searsport, Maine) and Olivia Mitchell (Bainbridge Island, Wash.), Natalie Samuels (San Ramon, Calif.), Sean Caulfield (San Diego, Calif.), and Robert Jacobs (Denton, Md.) sailed for the Mariners.
Starting with an L4 Course, deep into Smith Cove, the breeze was a consistent 20-25kt south-west, and the first race was sailed without spinnakers. As the racing progressed and puffs close to the 30s came through, the fleet added reefs and were still over-powered. Mariners Sailors excelled in these conditions, with a lot of familiarity with the fleet and venue. As the wind subsided in the afternoon, reefs were removed, and spinnakers re-allowed, which served to extend the Mariners lead on the day. They frequently were first and second off the starting line and York, Ho, Beauregard, and Estes notched first-place finishes in every race. Very consistent sailing in difficult conditions meant Mariners Sailing finished first and second on the day.
