HOOD RIVER, Oregon — High waters, twisting wind, and the cold, cold Columbia River.

Everything was offered in the way of conditions for the Bainbridge Spartans and other sailors at the Forrest Cook Regatta in Hood River on Saturday, March 25.

With 24 420-class sailboats on the starting line, the Columbia River was at four feet over flood stage, and the protective sandbar at the venue was almost entirely under water. Locals said they had not seen the river so high before, and in the main channel beyond the race course, the current was running at 6 knots. Add to that: The wind had a geographic bend due to the course.

Saturday turned out to be the day to race; all of the 18 races were completed, and Sunday was very rainy and there was no sailable wind.

Bainbridge High School fielded three teams and sailed for half of a Newport/Bainbridge team, as well.

The best performance from BHS came from a girls’ team, including Olivia Mitchell, Sophie Crandall and Amanda Gilmore in the A Division and Elizabeth Rolfes and Sophia Kasper in the B Division, who placed second in the regatta with 87 points over 18 races.

The A Division women also earned the top girls’ boat award, with very consistent finishes over the day: 3-1-1-1-3-3-6-5-2.

Lincoln High School, of Portland, Oregon, placed first in the regatta with 73 points. Central Kitsap claimed third with 97 points.

The second Bainbridge team finished eighth; sailors included Lindsay Campbell, Harry Saliba, Daniel Rentz, Zach Cooper (who also won the most important honor, the Sportsmanship Award) and Tristan Knoll.

Cooper made sure none of the 420s that were launched over a rocky shoal were allowed to touch the bottom by wading into the cold Columbia River up to his shoulders. (It wasn’t exactly a shivery surprise, as there were snow patches along the highway and the hilltops were white).

Bainbridge Team 3 sailors — Quinn Ring, Camden Lee, Hunter Johnston, Max Doane and Clayton Marsh — finished 15th.

BHS sailors Banning Jones and Parker Hutchinson also sailed for the B half of a mixed Bainbridge/Newport, Oregon team to earn 15th place in the B Division.

Their A Division Newport sailors did not perform as well, however, leaving the combined team in 22nd.