SILVERDALE — The Community Boating Program’s high school sailing team, representing high schoolers from all over Clallam County, competed in its first regatta earlier in March to kick off the 2022 sailing season.
Teams from Central Kitsap, Kingston and Port Angeles came together to compete on the waters of Dyes Inlet in Silverdale on March 5. This was the first competition of the season with the team only able to have one-on-the water practice before hitting the road. Even so, Port Angeles junior Ozzy Minard and senior Ella Schulz took home top honors with a first-place finish overall.
“Each race we added on another aspect of things we have been working on in order to perform to the best of our ability, and it paid off,” said Schulz.
Port Angeles High School sailors Ozzy Minard, left and Ella Schulz finished first at a race held last weekend outside of Silverdale. (Doreen Minard photo)
Local sailors competed against twelve other teams in some good wind, which allowed hosts to complete nine races for the competing teams.
“Having the first regatta of the year after just one week of practice was a great way to jump start the season,” said coach Eric Lesch. “Ozzy and Elle’s first place overall was a big win for our team. They consistently had great starts and showed a lot of tenacity on the race course.
“Elliot [Dahlin] and Fern [Knobel] showed characteristic confidence in close quarters and came away with some great light wind starts,” Lesch said. “Luna [Hutchin] and Charlie [Kasten] had one of the more exciting finishes of the regatta, catching a boat right on the line in the last race. It’s still early in the season, but this is a great way to start.”
The spring competitive season continues through May and then the athletes can keep honing their skills all through the summer during weekend hosted training sessions. The program is open to all high school-age athletes within Clallam County. The junior sailing program is open to all youth age 12 and up and practices Sunday from mid-April through October.
Founded in 2019, the Community Boating Program is a 501C3 Non-Profit Group whose mission is to provide access to boating opportunities to youth and adults on the Olympic Peninsula. The organization’s website is www.communityboatingprogram.org/.
