Traverse Area High School Sailing

Traverse Team Takes Top Finishes at Culver Academy/Great Oaks Qualifier


September 21, 2008 -- Six high school students representing the Traverse Area Sailing Team traveled to Culver Academy, Ind., on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee on Sept.19-21, to compete in the Great Oaks Qualifier. The two-day regatta hosted 11 regional high schools and representing 79 sailors. High school students sailed in one of three fleets including Laser full-rig, Laser radial and 420 boats. Team Traverse area competed in all three fleets.

“This weekend was a test of patience, as the northern sailors are obviously spoiled by steady winds and consistent conditions. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of the races under windless conditions to which we were unaccustomed,” said Coach Ben Ferris of Traverse Area Sailing Team.


Abby Branson, a junior at Suttons Bay High, with a race winner in the second of the four races, tied for second and in the tie-breaker was awarded third overall in the in the Laser full-rig series. In the four races making up the regatta, Branson placed 4,1,4,7 under extremely light wind conditions. All three fleets took to the waters on Sunday but were forced back to shore due to the lack of wind.
“Abby got a sweet trophy and is now 2-for-2 in this inaugural high school sailing season,” says TC West teammate Gus Stauber.


Stauber, a junior at TC West High also competing in the Laser full rig took fourth place in the regatta with one race coming in second place. In the other races, Stauber took 3, 5 and an 8.
“With a gift a little more wind, I had my bet on you winning the whole thing,” said TC West teammate Elle Rivard.

TC West freshmen sailors Rivard and Abigail Skibowski made their 420-race debut at the regatta placing 5, 13 and 11. Rivard skippered while Skibowski crewed in the largest fleet representing sixteen 420 vessels.
“I believe these ladies will have to be reckoned with the next time they meet competition on the water,” said teammate Andy Wynkoop. A TC Central junior, Wynkoop, received sixth overall in the Laser full rig fleet with scores in the four races of 6,4,7,3. “Andy was the entertainment force on the water in the mist of dead air,” Branson said.

In her first major regatta, Anna Frick, TC Central senior competed in the radial Laser fleet and showed she can be competitive with the individual race scores of 7,7,7,6.

“It’s really cool to be on a team with students from high schools all over the Grand Traverse area,” said teammate Skibowski.

Traverse Area Sailing Team, with its affiliation with Traverse Area Community Sailing (TACS), promotes athletic competition of the life-long sport of sailing for regional high school students and competes in regattas sectioned by the Inter-Scholastic Sailing Association.

Next up: Oct 4 - Talbott Regatta - Chicago Yacht Club, Chicago, IL