The Antilles High School sailing team traveled last weekend to the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida, where it won the South Atlantic Interscholastic Sailing Association District Team Race Qualifier, securing a spot at Baker team race nationals next month in Portland, Maine.
The team sent eight sailors to this event, all of whom sailed both days of the regatta. Skippers were: Chris Sharpless, Teddy Nicolosi, Rayne Duff, and Mateo Di Blasi. Crews where juniors Victoria Flatley and Gillian Perrell, and sophomores Savannah Young. Sophomore Mia Nicolosi sailed as both a crew and a skipper.
The team flew in on Thursday, and used Friday as a practice day to get ready for the regatta. As there were only 12 boats and eight teams,each team was given a short period to practice.
Even though we had little practice on Friday, the team felt ready to go by the next morning. However, the universe had other plans: there was absolutely no wind in the morning.
Racing was delayed until, at around 4 p.m. Saturday, there was enough wind to start the day of racing. After the first day of races, Antilles boasted an undefeated record.
The next day brought steady six to eight knot winds, which allowed the racing to begin right away.
Antilles maintained its undefeated record, finishing the first round robin against the top team racers in the SAISA district. Delays the day before cut the regatta short, and instead of sailing a second round robin, the race committee determined that sailing a final-four round robin would decide the title.
At this point, Antilles had gained enough of a lead that it only needed to win one of the last three races to secure first place. Antilles lost its first race, its only loss of the tournament, then won the final two to secure its spot at the nationals.
