The Orcas High School Sailing Team Hits the Water

— from Burke Thomas —

Sail Orcas 2014l Left to right, Axel Greening, Wylie Kau, Coach Burke Thomas, Taj Howe, Coach Bob Brunius, Maggie Toombs, Matia Schwartz, Kaya Osborne, Quinn Freedman and Michael Cheshen, (Dana Sabine, Halle Thompson not in photo.)

With snow still falling from the sky and the air temperatures hovering in the 30’s, the Orcas High School Sailing Team has taken to the water, ensuring that warmer weather is on its way.

The Orcas team is one of thirty schools that participate in the NW District of High School Sailing spring season, with regattas scheduled almost every weekend through May. For more information on NWISA go to https://nwisa.hssailing.org/

Orcas graduated nine seniors from the team last year, which has opened up opportunities for the JV skippers and crews from last spring to step up and sail varsity against the bigger pre-season favorites Bainbridge, Sehome and Port Townsend this year.

The first test for the team will come March 8th at the Seattle Yacht Club, kick –Off Regatta where 25 teams are expected to participate. Another fun regatta is Islands Cup April 5&6, hosted this year for the first time by the Lopez team.

Coach Burke Thomas said “This is a young team, with a lot of upside potential. We are going to work very hard at boat handling and team work in the boats, and are going to compete with everyone.” Follow the team all season long at https://www.facebook.com/sailorcas