CHRISTCHURCH, VA – 23 October 2024
The Christchurch School varsity sailing team has won both the Fall Mid-Atlantic TEAM Championship and the Fall FLEET Championship.
The Fall Team Championship was hosted by the Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, MD on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13. Saturday started off with a West North West breeze at about 5-10 knots with some oscillations to the North. It was a North North West breeze for a majority of the day before the southerly wind had the race completely turn around the course. Sunday started with a light breeze from the East South East and slowly built to the South until we had a steady 12-16 knots of breeze.
Christchurch skippers were Bo Angus ’25, Elliott Lipp ’26, and Wylder Smith ’27. Crews were Brooke Mertz ’26, Bennett Moss ’26, Suzie Nguyen ’25, Adelaide Matzky ’25, Malia Deane ’25, and Simone Moss ’25.
Ten schools competed including Severn School (Severna Park, MD); Norfolk Academy (Norfolk, VA); Hampton Roads Academy (Newport News, VA); The Stony Brook School (Stony Brook, NY); Key School (Annapolis, MD); Norfolk Collegiate School (Norfolk, VA); Severna Park (Severna Park, MD); Leonardtown High School (Leonardtown, MD); and Mamaroneck High School (Mamaroneck, NY).
The Fall Fleet Championship was hosted by Youth Sailing Virginia in Fort Monroe on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20. Saturday winds were initially northerly in the high single digits, building to NE mid-teens with gusts a bit higher throughout midday. Sunday’s breeze was moderate, waxing and waning between 5 and 9mph, generally northerly with gusts slightly higher. Shortly after 11am it clocked to ENE. The oscillations were significant and challenging, often 45 degrees each side of center, keeping the PRO and mark boats busy with almost constant adjustments.
Christchurch competed in a field of 18 schools from the mid-Atlantic states including
Severn School (Severna Park, MD); Hampton Roads Academy (Newport News, VA); Norfolk Academy (Norfolk, VA); Southern Regional High School (Manahawkin, NJ); Christian Brothers Academy (Middletown, NJ); The Stony Brook School (Stony Brook, NY); Key School (Annapolis, MD); Canisius High School (Buffalo, NY); Norfolk Collegiate School (Norfolk, VA); Donovan Catholic High School (Toms River, NJ); Severna Park (Severna Park, MD); Gunston School (Queen Anne’s County, MD); Great Mills High School (Great Mills, MD); Toms River South (Toms River, NJ); West Irondequoit (Rochester, NY); Mamaroneck High School (Mamaroneck, NY) and St. Mary’s High School (Annapolis, MD).
Christchurch finished in first place with 87 points, earning a berth in the Atlantic Coast Championship Regatta in Annapolis, November 2-3.
Coach Rob Deane directs the school’s sailing program, which also includes a junior varsity team as well as a Learn-To-Sail program for beginners.
Christchurch competes in the Virginia Interscholastic Sailing Association League (VISA)
with high school sailing teams from Virginia. VISA is part of the Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Sailing Association (MASSA) which is a district of the Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA).
