[ot-caption title=”PC sailors prepare for another day on the water. (via Lindsey Bornstein, senior)”]

Due to the sailing team’s recently becoming a sport, the team at Pine Crest has not garnered as much recognition as some other sports such as volleyball and football, but in spite of that, it has become one of the most up and coming sports at the Pine over the past few years. Since becoming an official varsity sport last year, sailing has attracted solid interest throughout the school.  Many students who had not previously participated in athletics or who wanted to try a new sport have taken up sailing.

Sailing is attractive for a number of reasons.  First, the squad practices off campus twice a week, which allows many students to fit sailing into their schedule.  Additionally, the sailing team’s season is year round. Despite the fact that members are on the water for just two days each week, the team doesn’t have an off-season.  Regattas take place once or twice a month around South Florida, giving the team a chance to compete quite often.  Sailors are able to play their sport for the entire school year.  And last but certainly not least, sailing is fun!  Athletes on the PC sailing team rave about just how enjoyable the sport can be.

Although sailing is often thought of as an individual sport, navigating the waters requires solid cohesiveness and a unified spirit, especially in double races, which are races in which two sailors steer one boat.  Much like Pine Crest’s football team, the sailors stress togetherness as a centerpiece of their athletic foundation.  To build up this team chemistry, the squad takes bonding trips outside of practice that make them feel like not only a team, but a family.

Even though the team only practices twice a week, the sailing team works hard, and the work they have put in to practice is shining through on the water. Despite being one of the newest sailing teams in the area, Pine Crest’s sailing squad has established themselves as a force to be reckoned among other teams in South Florida such as St. Thomas Aquinas.  It is very impressive that the PC program is already making strides and competing strongly with many more experienced and older programs.  With some experienced sailors on the team such as Junior Ariel Casaretto, the team looks forward to reaching even higher goals in the near future. Senior team member Lindsey Bornstein said, “We are very excited because we are building a strong foundation with many motivated underclassmen for the future of sailing at Pine Crest.”  Indeed, the future looks very bright for the Panther Sailors.  With stellar coaching, highly motivated sailors, and the support of the Athletics Department and PC fan community, the sailing team is bound to navigate its way to success.

The sailing team is definitely in a building phase.  The roster is especially young this year following the departure of both of last year’s senior captains, Gen Selden and Emma Tillitski.  Numerically, the team lacks experience, but with a myriad of talented underclassmen to pool from, the sailors still have aspirations to do well this season.  Also, as the program gains more attention and experience over the next few years, PC is likely to see more and more students interested in sailing.  By competing intensely in practice and in regattas, the team has created a highly competitive atmosphere in which the sailors can push each other while still having fun. Even though it is only their second season, Type One hopes these sailors will be making waves on the water this year in competition.  Best of luck this season and go Panthers!