Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club junior tennis and sailing
Tennis Director Chantalle Lavertu reports the tennis program saw 40 players attend three daily clinics. Players worked on technique and strategy emphasizing ground stroke development. Teams were created in each clinic with mascot or country names to develop team spirit and pride. Teams competed throughout the week with Thursday’s "game day" followed by tournament Friday with each team competing with the other in each clinic.
For the Friday singles tournament, Rath Schoenthal won the Masters Beginners clinic. Laura Chapman ran her winning streak another week in the Junior Beginner clinic. Nathan Kalvaitis won his bracket, with Cleyton Splaine making a fine second place showing. Tournament Day allows players to consolidate skills developed during the week with a little pressure from friendly competition, while focusing on the importance of good sportsmanship.
Sailing Director Chris Liberti reports the Sailing Program saw racers sailing in venues from Newport to Southport, while sailors also took an island excursion right here in Boothbay, and the program now has five of nine newly purchased Tech Dinghies.
Twenty-two sailors faced a few foggy mornings before capping off the week with a sail into town for ice cream on Friday. Wednesday morning sailors helped staff launch the first two Tech Dinghies and took them for a maiden sail. These stable boats sail far better than Turnabouts or Optis and calm the nerves of Mini Mariners. Techs are a hit with more experienced sailors who can now sail with crew. Otto Schoenthal said it best, "Optis are fun because you can race them, Techs are just fun to sail." A profound statement from a 9-year-old that a one size fits-all program doesn’t always fit all.
Our top BHYC 420 team, Hamilton Barclay and Ella Beauregard, traveled toNewport, Rhode Island for the NBYA Junior Race week and Area A Bemis qualifiers early in the week, finishing 8th overall and 1st in Division 1 (under 16) among 52 boats.
On Wednesday, two 420 teams traveled to Portland Yacht Club for the MIRC (Maine Interclub Racing Circuit) Regatta. Claudia Stedt, Tess McComiskey, Bobby Clarkson and Tyra Pranger sailed well before fog caused an early end to racing which meant exploring Portland for some eats. On Thursday, four Opti sailors and one 420 team took a break from their practice routine and traveled to Southport Yacht Club for an interclub practice on the Sheepscot.
Friday afternoon we took our first Adventure Sail to Burnt Island for a picnic lunch, Ultimate Frisbee, and swimming. Our young sailors made the trek aboard a mixed fleet including J-22's, 420's and Tech Dinghies learning valuable mooring and anchoring skills. Sailors, parents, and staff enjoyed this end to the week and it will surely be repeated. One of our sailors, Tove Pranger, had a breakthrough on this sail. Tove is a capable young sailor who has grown beyond Optis but not quite ready for a 420. After two days in the Techs, Tove and Tessa Stevens sailed to Burnt Island unassisted, rekindling her love of sailing.
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