Lars Hansen

The BSM sailing team getting ready for team racing.

As the ice melts and the weather warms up, the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Sailing Club is ready for the upcoming spring season. After a successful fall season, the team is eager to get back on the water and compete in more regattas.

Many students do not know many details about how the sailing team operates. A noteworthy aspect is that this team is a co-op with Wayzata Sailing. This means that students from different schools like Orono, and Wayzata, will also practice and compete with each other. While some might think sailing is just a casual sport, the team takes it seriously and is ready to get even better this year. “It’s fun meeting people from different schools. We practice, and then, race against them,” senior Claudia Kroll said.

The team has had some major success recently. Freshman Ella Bowers and her teammates won a regatta in California, competing against some of the top sailing schools in the country. This win has given the team even more motivation and confidence going into the spring season. “The people are amazing, and it’s really fun to be out on the water,” Bowers said.

While this sailing team is not all about casual sailing, their practices are intense and structured. The team meets from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with about 30 minutes on each end spent setting up and taking down the boats. The actual time on the water is spent polishing different techniques, such as, race start strategies, reading the wind, and and preparing for upcoming regattas. “The coaches always talk us through what their opinion is and what we should work on after we come back, and put the boats away,” Bowers said.

One big focus this season is Team Racing, a different part of sailing where usually three boats from the same team work together to block their opponents and secure top finishes. The team is hoping to have a lot of success and secure top finishes with all the talent they have. “We want to continue to get better as a team, have good team chemistry, and win some more races,” Kroll said.

With strong teamwork, dedication, and some key wins under their belt, the BSM Sailing team is looking forward to an exciting and competitive season ahead. Their commitment in the off-season is hoping to pay off this spring. “You get to learn a lot, get better, and also just have a lot of fun being on the water,” Kroll said.