Old Rochester sailing team hits the waves for first day of practice
Rebecca Shaefer and Claire Vergoni bring a boat down to the water through the snow on the first day of sailing practice Wednesday, March 5. Photos by Mari Huglin 
Claire Vergoni rigs a sailing boat.
The Old Rochester sailing team spent the first part of practice getting the boats ready for the water. 
The sailing team works on their boats. 
The beach was covered with snow on the first day of spring practice. 
Eric Spearin waves as he gets ready to set sail. 
Linden White brings a boat down to the water through the snow. 
Ellie Cowles and Annika Lund rig their boat together. 
Jonah Hobin and Luke Cameron smile for the camera. 
Charlie VanVoorhis talks to the team before they got on the water. 
The Old Rochester sails were ready for the water. 
Linden White and Molly Wronski rig their boat together. 
Eric Spearin grins as he helps rig a boat. 
Old Rochester boats ready to hit the water. 
Luke Cameron pulls a sail. 
Molly Wronski prepares her boat. 
Iain McManus chats with his teammates. 
Claire Vergoni prepares rope. 
Ellie Cowles pulls a dolly out of the water. 
Rebecca Schaefer and Jackson Libby set sail. 
Rebecca Schaefer and Jackson Libby steer their boat. 
Linden White and Molly Wronski on the water. 
Linden White steers as Molly Wronski fixes the sail. 
Boats float across Mattapoisett Harbor. 
Eric Spearin and Iain McManus take their boat out. 
Eric Spearin and Iain McManus grins as they sail. 
Three boats are in sync. 
The team enjoys time on the water for the first day of practice.
Rebecca Shaefer and Claire Vergoni bring a boat down to the water through the snow on the first day of sailing practice Wednesday, March 5. Photos by Mari Huglin
Claire Vergoni rigs a sailing boat.
The Old Rochester sailing team spent the first part of practice getting the boats ready for the water.
The sailing team works on their boats.
The beach was covered with snow on the first day of spring practice.
Eric Spearin waves as he gets ready to set sail.
Linden White brings a boat down to the water through the snow.
Ellie Cowles and Annika Lund rig their boat together.
Jonah Hobin and Luke Cameron smile for the camera.
Charlie VanVoorhis talks to the team before they got on the water.
The Old Rochester sails were ready for the water.
Linden White and Molly Wronski rig their boat together.
Eric Spearin grins as he helps rig a boat.
Old Rochester boats ready to hit the water.
Luke Cameron pulls a sail.
Molly Wronski prepares her boat.
Iain McManus chats with his teammates.
Claire Vergoni prepares rope.
Ellie Cowles pulls a dolly out of the water.
Rebecca Schaefer and Jackson Libby set sail.
Rebecca Schaefer and Jackson Libby steer their boat.
Linden White and Molly Wronski on the water.
Linden White steers as Molly Wronski fixes the sail.
Boats float across Mattapoisett Harbor.
Eric Spearin and Iain McManus take their boat out.
Eric Spearin and Iain McManus grins as they sail.
Three boats are in sync.
The team enjoys time on the water for the first day of practice.
MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional High School sailing team set sail on Wednesday, March 4 for the first day of practice of spring season on the water.
Head Coach Charlie VanVoorhis of Mattapoisett has been coaching the Old Rochester Regional sailing team for over seven years and is excited for the season to kick off. He is most excited to work with his senior class as the weather becomes better.
“I have a really great senior class and so this is my last season with four really great kids,” VanVoorhis said.
The team practices on Mattapoisett Harbor with the assistance of the Mattapoisett Community Sailing Association. They are usually on the water five days a week during spring season.
VanVoorhis hopes his team continues to improve on the strategy side of sailing. He compared it to chess since there is skill and immense focus needed.
“There's a lot that goes on out there and [the team is] just kind of picking up bits and pieces,” he said. “I'd love them to get a better sense of the totality of the sport.”
In the fall, the team qualified for the Atlantic Coast Championship for the first time. He said he hopes to take that momentum to improve this season.
VanVoorhis said he hopes the team stays safe, has fun and enjoys sailing this season.
The team of around 20 includes seventh graders to seniors in high school with a variety of skill levels. Some athletes had never sailed before joining the team.
The three senior captains Molly Wronski, Caitlyn Lund and Linden White are excited for the competition of the season and spending time together.
“I think being on this team, it's like a big family,” Wronski of Rochester said. “We are here for each other.”
The three agreed that the hardest part of sailing is controlling the boat while paying attention to everything around them.
“It's a game of chess— of speed chess— while driving a race car and also on the water with other boats and changing conditions,” Wronski said.
The captains said there are always constant movements and minor adjustments to be made.
Each boat has a two person team made of a “skipper” who steers and a “crew” who observe and make all the adjustments on the boat.
Wronski is most excited for regattas where they get to race other schools, specifically the Nantucket Junior Figawi and the Herreshoff Regatta.
Lund of Rochester and White of Mattapoisett are confident their team can go far this year. White wants to see how they compare to other schools and how they place in the league.
At the end of the day, all the captains love sailing and being out on the water. They get to enjoy the sunset and serenity of the water.
“Sometimes [sailing is] the most stressful thing ever because you're really locked in and you can be terrified depending on the conditions,” Lund said. “But, it's so calming in a sense and it's so pretty here.”
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