ROCKLAND — While many of us are putting away the skis and pondering bottom paint, local dinghy sailors were out racing on Rockland Harbor this past Saturday. The informal invitational Regatta was hosted by the Apprenticeshop and involved four teams with 20 high school sailors from Oceanside, Camden Hills, Islesboro and Southern Maine High School. While the competition was tight, with teams exchanged first place finishes in individual races, a team from Southern Maine, with Ava Haag and Greta Morrissette on board, came out with the overall first place.

Condition on Rockland's harbor was challenging with blustery winds and temperatures in the high 30s. The on and off the west wind, from 10 to 15 knots, had the boats planing in strong gusts, then abruptly stopping in brief calm spells. Sailors had to work hard to keep the boats right side up at times. Two boats capsized dunking sailors in the 40-degree water. Drysuits help protect High School sailors, but wind and spray made for some invigorating dinghy sailing conditions. Hungry sailors with cold hands enjoyed lunch on the sunny and warm shore by the Apprenticeshop after the boats were hauled up.

Rockland's fleet of 420's was dressed out in colorful new sails sewn this past winter by Pope Sails of Rockland, with a grant from the Sprague Foundation. Lyman Morse of Thomaston provided hull and rig repairs and new lines came from Nova Braid of Nova Scotia.

Area teams will be back out on Rockland Harbor in the weeks to come, practicing for a series of upcoming regattas in Portland, Castine, and Rockland. For more information on the sailing program go to Apprenticeshop.org.

The results:
1st Place Southern Maine High School, Skipper: Ava Haag; Crew: Greta Morrissette, with coach Jack O'Rorke.

2nd Place CRHS: Skipper: Hugh Levitt, Crew: Courtney Chamberlin, Kate Hodgson; with coach Debbie Schreiber

3rd Place Islesboro Central School; Skipper: Emily Lau, Crew: Ava Schlottman. with coach Mike Horn.