At 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, athletes from 25 Metro Boston sailing teams scattered the dock at Community Boating Incorporated and marveled as the clouds darkened and thunder and lightning wreaked havoc on their evening plans.
Noah Stern, director of adult programs, took command and ushered the 200 or so Massachusetts Bay League participants inside.
“We saw it just in time and were able to get in here reasonably quickly,” said Hingham coach Joe Griffin. “It’s nothing we haven’t seen before.”
They spread out around two floors and ate pizza, reminisced, and savored their final moments as a group. While competition is a focal point, camaraderie and continuity among teams is also a major draw and defining element for high school sailing teams.
For Sharon, which secured the Carl Zimba Regatta overall championship after heartbreak against Hingham last year, friendship is a critical part of the equation. Pushing one another comes naturally because they know it’s from a place of love.
“All of us are very close, and we communicate really well in the water, which has really contributed to that,” said Sharon senior Ashika Reddy. “We have great coaches as well.”
In the 420 A division, Belmont Hill placed first, Sharon second, and St. John’s Prep third. Belmont Hill led the 420 B group, followed by St. John’s Prep and Hingham.
Hingham won the Merc Gold division, with Newton North and Sharon second and third. The Merc Silver featured Hingham, Newton North, and Sharon as the top placers, while Hingham claimed the MBL A division crown.
“I like that it’s a four-division regatta,” said Sharon coach Gary Werden. “That makes it very interesting, because teams have to have depth in order to do well. We count each of the four divisions.”
It’s been a momentous year for Sharon, as a standout senior class led by captains Reddy, Ethan Huang, and Thomas Ha helped the Eagles qualify for the Presidents Trophy and National Invitational Tournament for the first time since 2016.
They took time to pose for a photo, showing they’re more organized on the water than out. When it’s time for business, they lean on the bonds that got them to this point.
“It’s really about our team dynamic,” Reddy said. “All of us are very close.”
Trevor Hass can be reached at trevor.hass@globe.com. Follow him on X @TrevorHass.
