After sending two teams to the 3rd annual Western Canada Cup, the Vikings sailing team took second place behind the University of Washington, but beating out their Canadian hosts, the University of Victoria in British Columbia.

Divided into A fleet and B fleet the Western sailors competed in a total of 24 races over the weekend.

“We took a really young team, but did some of the best sailing of the year,” varsity skipper Andrew Nelson said

Starting out with good sunny sailing weather and 7-12 knot winds on Saturday, conditions deteriorated as a frontal system brought showers and 10-14 knot winds on Sunday.

Nelson said the racing was close and resulted in a very tight regatta with just a few points between the teams.

“Only a couple of points separated the scores of the top 3 boats,” Nelson said. “It was really good to see our younger sailors perform. “

Sailing against the competition of the University of Puget Sound, and Lewis and Clark, the Vikings held their own.  Junior varsity skipper Ashley Vincent and crewmember Angela Gossom took a second place finish overall in the second to last race of the regatta.

“It gives me confidence that our team will continue to be a dominant presence in the district despite the fact that we are losing many key seniors after the season,” Nelson said.

With the regatta ended and the scores being tabulated Nelson said everyone who made the voyage to Canada had a good time.  However, the trip was not over and for the wind loving Western sailors more was still to come.

“The best part of the trip was the bumpy ferry ride home as we crossed the Straits of Georgia in near gale force winds,” Nelson said.

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