The Dublin School sailing team competed in the Pickney Fleet Regatta over the first weekend in November. Hosted by Brewster Academy, this marked Dublin’s first ISSA (Interscholastic Sailing Association) sanctioned race since its reestablishment as a competitive team in 2010. The regatta was open to all New England high school programs, and attracted 12 teams. 

The regatta was held on Lake Winnipesauke, which typically has aggressive winds, but remained relatively light on this day. Each team present was allowed a total of four sailors to represent their respective program: two in the “A Division”, and two in the “B Division”. Since there were a limited number of hulls available, races between the A and B Divisions were switched off every two races. Originally set to hold 24 races total (12 for each the A and B Fleet), only 14 were completed due to the light winds and waning daylight. There was also some alternating between using the standard windward-leeward course and a port triangle depending on the strength of the wind at the time. All races consisted of one rounding of the course.

Sailing for Dublin in the A Division were Tucker Wheeler (skipper) and Anna Sigel (crew). Not usually paired together, the duo got off to a rocky start, placing 11^th of 12 in their first race, but then gradually moved up in the ranks over the remaining races. They alternated between 8^th and 9^th place in races 2-5, and finally ended in a solid 7^th place by the last two races. This earned Dublin a total of 59 points and put them at 7^th out of 12 overall in the A Fleet, ahead of Portland High School (ME), Cape Elizabeth (ME), NVHSST (VT), Northfield Mount Hermon (MA), and Cheverus (MA). In the top three spots for the A Division were Falmouth (ME), Robert E. Fitch (CT), and Brewster Academy (NH).

Sailing for Dublin in the B Division were Eli Ingendahl (skipper) and Adam Bloom (crew). The pair consistently placed 10^th of 12 over the first four races, but then ran into a bit of bad luck (and wind) in their remaining 3 races, placing 12^th. This affected their average pretty dramatically, scoring them 77 points and putting them in 11^th overall in the B Fleet. This was a highly competitive field; on par with the A Fleet, and the two were able to come away with some good race experience and important lessons learned. In the top three spots for the B Division were Southern Maine (ME), Robert E. Fitch (CT), and Duxbury Bay Maritime (MA).

In the overall team standings (combined A and B Fleet scores), Dublin came out 10^th of 12, ahead of both Northfield Mount Hermon and the Cheverus School, and just behind NVHSST. Southern Maine, Robert E. Fitch, and Brewster Academy took the top 3 spots respectively. 

Although not placing high in the ranks, Dublin posted some solid results at a mid-size ISSA regatta, which featured some of the better high school sailing programs across New England. This regatta marked the program’s true reemergence into the competitive sailing realm, has illustrated where we stand in relation to our competition, and has shown us what we need to work on in the coming year.