Twenty members of the Orcas High School sailing team took to the waters of West Sound on March 27 and 28, intent on defending their title as Island Cup champions.

The regatta, hosted by Sail Orcas, Orcas Island Yacht Club and the Orcas High School sailing team, featured stiff competition with 25 boats crowding the start line for each of the 20 races sailed.

Teams from all around the NWISA District attended this year’s Island Cup, including two boats from Portland. The racing featured light and shifty southeast breezes on Saturday and a steadier moderate southwest wind on Sunday. Twenty races were completed during the regatta with Orcas boat #1 handily defending the cup with a first place combined low total score of 66 points. Second place went to Seattle Yacht Club with 112 points, and Bainbridge boat #1 took third with 126 points.

All the teams also enjoyed a Saturday dinner together at the OIYC picnic shelter hosted by Orcas team parents followed by a rousing dodge-ball tournament at the high school with North Kitsap declaring themselves dodge ball champions. Next up for the team is the annual classic Dog Fish Bay Regatta in Poulsbo on April 10 and 11.