The GHCDS HS Sailing Team competed against the best high school sailors in the nation in two prestigious invitational regattas this past weekend,Nov 9&10, 2019, The College of Charleston Invitational and the Atlantic Coast Championship.  

The College of Charleston Invitational(CofC) also served as the Caribbean qualifier for a berth in the District Qualifier for the HS National Championships.  Competing at College of Charleston in A division were skipper Mathieu Dale/crew Lucy Klempen, in B division Skipper JJ Klempen/crew Carson Oakley, Coach Mack Bryant (CDS Alumni and All American Collegiate sailor).  This 2 day event started on Saturday with 40 degree temperatures with a fluctuating 5-12 knot breeze out of the north and strong current playing a role tactically, with a hard push by sailors and Race Committee the fleet completed 14 races getting off the water at sunset.  On Sunday temperatures where only a few degrees warmer with light and shifty winds allowing only 4 races before the wind died. In this heavily competitive fleet our Panthers finish 4th in Division A and 6th in Division B for an overall finish of 5th out of an 18 boat fleet.   Antilles School finished 2nd overall qualifying them for a berth in the District Qualifier for HS Nationals. Well done Panthers we will get them next time!

Our GHCDS Panther Sailors competing at Atlantic Coast Championship (ACC) in Toms River, NJ had a very challenging regatta, arriving late Friday night (thanks to airlines delays) to freezing temperatures and light and shifty winds.  Saturday high temps in the 30s, these Crucian sailors put up a good fight against some of the best teams in the Nation. Saturday began early with the sailors removing ice from their boats. The winds were light and shifty causing a two hour postponement while the race committee waited for breeze and made course adjustments. Our Panther Sailors had great attitudes and fought hard all day completing 9 races, getting off the water just before sunset. 

Sunday was slightly warmer but with gustier heavy winds, the kids had some great races. Again completing 9 races rounding out 18 races for the regatta.  Division A skipper Milo Miller/crew Brielle Schindler rotating with Lucia Bishop finished 15th and Division B Skipper Ariana Schwarts and Elyssa Franklin finish 20th  for an overall fishish of 18th out of 20 boat fleet. Thanks to Tim Franklin who chaperoned our ACC Team