Southwestern’s sailing team, pictured from left, are: Gabe Logan, Jack Webb, Ethan Arnone, Tommy Clark, Jack Ballard, Annika Hedin, Avi Whitmore, Philipp Meyer, Jack Colburn, Matt Lefler, Nolan Lefler and Emma Malmstrom-Jouanett. Submitted photo

Chautauqua Lake Community Sailing Foundation in collaboration with Chautauqua Lake Yacht Club hosted the foundation’s first ever High School Team Racing Regatta on Saturday.

Eight teams were in attendance from the Western New York area, with two of them from Southwestern Central.

Rather than an “every boat for itself” mentality as in other regattas, team racing involves strategy and partnership of teams in sets of two boats who sail to control the pace of the course, disrupt opposing boats and ultimately finish in a “winning combination” of placements as a group. Scoring for this type of regatta is also a bit different with the average of the team’s placement equaling to either a win or loss for the race.

The day’s team racing was a 2vs. 2 regatta, i.e. each team consisting of two boats; several races were conducted and all sailors were satisfied with the experience gained and were eager to participate in future team events.

Southwestern Team 1 consisted of Philipp Meyer skippering for Matt Lefler and Nolan Lefler skippering for Emma Malmstrom-Jouanett. Southwestern Team 2 was comprised of Jack Colburn sailing with Jack Ballard, with Avi Whitmore skippering with Ethan Arnone, as well as Jack Webb and Annika Hedin switching in. Tommy Clark and Gabe Logan also participated.

“We’re very happy with how the team racing event turned out,” Coach Hunter Farris said. “Despite the dreary conditions, we got off several races and sailors felt more confident and had a blast. We had a high participation turnout as well, which is encouraging, and we look forward to holding more team racing trials going forward.”

Irondequoit finished with a 5-0 record, followed by St. Joe’s (4-1), Nichols No. 1 (5-2), Southwestern No. 1 (4-3), Nichols No. 2 (2-3), Southwestern No. 2 (2-3), Buffalo Mix (1-6), Canisius (1-6).