Christchurch sailing team wins big championships

The Christchurch School varsity sailing team has won both the Fall Mid-Atlantic Team Championship and the Fall Fleet Championship.

The Fall Team Championship was hosted by the Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, Md. on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13. Saturday started off with a West North West breeze at about 5-10 knots with some oscillations to the North. It was a north north west breeze for a majority of the day before the southerly wind had the race completely turn around the course. Sunday started with a light breeze from the east south east and slowly built to the south until we had a steady 12-16 knots of breeze.

Christchurch skippers included Bo Angus (’25), Elliott Lipp (’26), and Wylder Smith (’27). Crews were Brooke Mertz (’26), Bennett Moss (’26), Suzie Nguyen (’25), Adelaide Matzky (’25), Malia Deane (’25), and Simone Moss (’25).

The Fall Fleet Championship was hosted by Youth Sailing Virginia in Fort Monroe on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20. Saturday winds were initially northerly in the high single digits, building to northeast mid-teens with gusts a bit higher throughout midday.

Sunday’s breeze was moderate, waxing and waning between 5 and 9 m.p.h., generally northerly with gusts slightly higher. Shortly after 11 a.m. it clocked to east northeast. The oscillations were significant and challenging, often 45 degrees each side of center, keeping the PRO and mark boats busy with almost constant adjustments.

Christchurch competed in a field of 18 schools from the mid-Atlantic states including Severn School (Severna Park, Md.); Hampton Roads Academy (Newport News); Norfolk Academy (Norfolk); Southern Regional High School (Manahawkin, N.J.); Christian Brothers Academy (Middletown, N.J.); The Stony Brook School (Stony Brook, N.Y.); Key School (Annapolis, Md.); Canisius High School (Buffalo, N.Y.); Norfolk Collegiate School (Norfolk); Donovan Catholic High School (Toms River, N.J.); Severna Park (Severna Park, Md.); Gunston School (Queen Anne’s County, Md.); Great Mills High School (Great Mills, Md.); Toms River South (Toms River, N.J.); West Irondequoit (Rochester, N.Y.); Mamaroneck High School (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and St. Mary’s High School (Annapolis, Md.).

Christchurch finished in first place with 87 points, earning a berth in the Atlantic Coast Championship Regatta in Annapolis, Nov. 2-3.