ANACORTES – The Bainbridge High School sailing team placed second in the team racing championships at the Pacific Northwest District Championship on May 22 in Anacortes.

Bainbridge posted a 13-6 record overall in a field of eight varsity teams over the two days of racing, ultimately falling to Sehome High School of Bellingham, but just edging Woodinville and Orcas High School, both of which tied for third place.

Team racing involves head-to-head racing between two schools at a time, in which three boats of one team race against an opponent. The objective, through strategic control over the race course, is to collectively finish so that one team’s combined placings beat those of the other team.

BHS attained a consistent 6-2 record in each of the two round-robin rotations, and then held on through the final championship round for second place.

The top four teams were very evenly matched, officials said, with each team demonstrating it was capable of beating the others in any particular matchup. In fact, Bainbridge prevailed over eventual first-place winner Sehome in two of their three meetings.

The Bainbridge varsity team consisted of co-captains Karl Anderson, Caelan Juckniess and Blake Bentzen as the three skippers, complemented by crewmembers Nicole Sanford, Elizabeth Rolfes, Sophia Kasper and Amanda Gilmore.

The Bainbridge junior varsity team placed third out of eight teams in the Silver Division, amassing an 8-6 record over the two days.

The wind conditions were an ideal 8-10 knots from a consistent southerly direction, and Bainbridge excelled with a 6-1 record and a tie for the lead in the first round-robin rotation on Saturday, May 21.

Lighter and shiftier winds on Sunday, May 22, proved more challenging, but Bainbridge held on. Kat Smith, Harry Saliba, Olivia Mitchell and Sophie Crandell rotated the skipper responsibilities, while Daniel Rentz, Roark Coggon, Camden Lee and Jack Sobeck served as crew.