Over the weekend, the dinghy sail team finished 2nd in a field of 18 teams at the MASSA Fall Gold Fleet Championship to earn a berth in the Atlantic Coast Championships in November.

Saturday began with a lengthy delay, but a Southwest wind eventually allowed six races in each division to go off. On Sunday, a light northerly wind settled in over Port Jefferson Harbor before moving northeast, but a 90-degree wind shift allowed only two races in each division to be completed.

Gavin Hudson and Mairead Reitzel piloted their Division A boat to three 1st place finishes in their eight races to accumulate 36 points and a 2nd place finish in the division. Maura Gonzales and Sean Beaver sailed to a pair of 1st place finishes in their eight Division B races, racking up 38 points and a 3rd place slot in the division. The Bears’ 74 total points gave them a runner-up finish to Severn (42 points) and earn one of the six available qualifying spots for the Atlantic Coast Championships.

The Bears are back on the water on November 5 in the MASSA Fall Girls District Championship, hosted by Severn.

---