This week was the seventh of the Southport Junior Yacht Club. We had sun and smiles throughout the week, especially for Bingo on Wednesday! 

Throughout the week, we had eight new swimmers: Isla Anand, Corbett Chapman, Beatrice Davis, Arzetta Garey, Josie Gibbons, Sydney Gibbons, Grayson Helming and Aiden Nunan. They leaped into the Maine water and were then rewarded with hot chocolate and a day in Turnabouts. 

The morning class had a calm week of sailing on the Sheepscot most days this week. Only Friday was spent on land, but even then we had a day of fun playing charades, knot-scotch, are you smarter than an instructor, and harbor navigation with life jackets!

With sightings of porpoises and journeys to the harbor of Five Islands, the morning class sailors at SYC had high spirits and learned new skills each day! 

In the afternoon class, we had a competitive week. The 420s had three race days, one of which was the Junior Round Southport Race against Boothbay Yacht Club sailors. While there was a light breeze, a highlight was when Skye Harrington and Finn Uhrich cut through the Newagen harbor and went from fifteenth to third! SYC sailors know the local waters! Some of our Opti sailors also joined in for the race and raced BHYC’s Fevas. While we didn’t win, we had a day of friendly competition and good sportsmanship.

This Wednesday, we had my personal favorite event, Bingo! With seventy-four prizes, all generously donated by local businesses, we had an amazing night. With the sound of bingo cards banging on the tables, and shouts when we called a number, bingo nights at SYC remind us all of the best parts about our special yacht club. While we only have one more week of the sailing program, we continue to make memories and the most of each moment.

Next week, we will begin to pack up our yacht club and end the week with our annual SYC Banquet at the Southport Town Hall at 6 p.m. where we will celebrate the sailors and the summer of 2024.