As the season approaches, many sailors are gearing up, working out, and attending voluntary chalk talk sessions which began as of December 1st. Time has been well spent getting a head start on the season, not only hitting the weights, but in the classroom as well.

As the long winter seems to be melting away and the snow shovels and snow blowers are put to rest, Barnstable will begin its journey in late March to try and capture both New England Titles. While sports such as baseball, softball and lacrosse hold indoor practices, the Raiders will be found on the bone chilling waters, dancing between snow squalls and shoveling snow from the 420’s lining the beach. Although these first couple of weeks are cold, the Raiders are definitely on fire. The team is quickly taking shape with returning Coach Bob Peck assisting with the Junior Varsity program along with Patti Germani and former Red Raider herself, Meredith Butler. Having these three aboard will make the 35-race schedule possible and keep the 30 sailors found on the water mighty busy throughout the season..

At the end of March, head to head team racing meets will be underway, even though the temperatures are still frigid and the days short on sunlight. The Red Raiders will go up against New England’s best to gain experience needed during the NE Championships. They will see competitions between Tabor, Hotchkiss, St. Georges, and Duxbury, all of whom competed in both New England Championships last season. The Raiders are still the elite on Cape Cod and will compete against teams such as Falmouth, Harwich, Chatham, Sandwich, Nauset, Bishop Stang, Darmouth, Bourne, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

With a new season and a fresh start, the team eagerly awaits the competition they will face. This year’s team has incredible senior leadership with drivers Patrick Meade, and crews Catherine Stone and Emma Bound. Juniors adding to the team dynamics are Will MacPhee, Kat Lovett, Dan Merritt, Zach Cutter, Ryan Packer, and Mary Kate Cervin. Last year was a huge growing year for the team, not in performance, but with the freshman class. Sailors to be on the look out for, that are making fine impressions for themselves early in their sailing careers, are sophomores MK Mezzetti, Ashleigh Farnham, Tristan Janowicz, Monica Miorandi, Colin Meade, Ali Rockwell, Richard Egan, and Kayia Davis. We would also like to welcome the 8th graders, not only to the high school but to the Red Raider Sailing Team as well. This move can only strengthen our feeder program and further produce great sailors on the waters of Lewis Bay.

The team is coming off of am impressive 2nd place finish at the O’day Qualifier last season, second to only Tabor Academy. They advanced to the New England Fleet Racing Championships last year, held in Portland, ME and finished 11th in New England. Further, they qualified for Wild Card Weekend, a playoff started to get more teams involved in qualifying for the Mark Trophy (New England Team Race Champs) Unfortunately we did not make it to the finals, yet gained great experience in the game and look to better our odds during the 2010 season. We look forward to competing in 2010 and hope you follow our success throughout the season. The winds of change have arrived and the 2010 Red Raider Sailing Team is ready to dominate.