by Jules Mann

Orcas Island High School senior and captain of the sailing team

The second week of July saw Orcas Island High School sailors Annie Ryder, Taj Howe, Quinn Freedman and myself take to the rough waters of the Columbia River Gorge to participate in the 2012 WIND Youth Clinic and Regatta.

WIND is an intensive training clinic for youth sailors interested in furthering their skills in high wind conditions. For three days participants are trained in tactics, sail trim, and boat-handling by an accomplished staff of champion trainers.

Sailors experienced winds of up to 30 knots in heat above 80 degrees, and after three days of capsizes and sunburns they were ready for the WIND regatta. Competition was fierce with the laser radial class, composed of 20 sailors, trying for the number one spot that would take them to the Smythe trophy competition in San Francisco, Calif.

Saturday began with low winds and some slight rain, but the day improved with winds up to 12 knots and six races completed. Ryder started off the day with a first place finish in the laser 4.7 fleet. As the final day of racing drew to a close, Jack Toland from Overlake High School proved to be the frontrunner of the radial fleet and finished the regatta in first. He will be traveling to San Francisco in August to compete for the Smythe trophy. Ryder placed third in the 4.7 fleet, and San Juan Island’s Mars le Baron placed first in the full rig fleet.

“I see huge gains in a skippers’ skill and confidence when they have completed a week of sailing in the challenging sailing conditions the Columbia Gorge provides,” said Orcas coach Burke Thomas.