New-Look Sailing Team Begins Season On Thursday

As the Nantucket sailing team attempts to replace six sailors from last year’s squad, head coach Bruce Turner will be leaning on some familiar faces to take on expanded leadership roles this spring – including their lone senior Rory Murray.

“We lost six people, but we also got six or seven new people," Turner said. "Rory is our only senior. He's very invested and he's an awesome sailor. He's our best sailor. There's no question about it. His leadership is indispensable.”

The Whalers will also look to junior captains Sadie Paterson and Clementine Kelly to lead the way for Nantucket. It remains to be seen how Turner will split up his team and how the crews of each boat will look as they have had limited time on the water.

"What we need is to be able to go sailing," Turner said "The weather's been terrible. We've been blown out four of the seven days available so far. We actually sailed on Saturday just to make up a day. It was beautiful. It got windy at the end of the day but it was good and much needed.”

Turner said the Whalers won’t be the only team looking to replace seniors from last year as the Vineyard lost two of their top sailors and Falmouth also lost their top sailor. He expects other teams to have an adjustment period like Nantucket, but is expecting a competitive year of sailing this spring.

"So we will see. These teams are going to be good. We go see Old Rochester on Thursday," Turner said. "They have a really good coach. The good thing there is he's got some depth so we're bringing the JV team with us so that's good.”

The regatta on Thursday will be on the road at 3:30 p.m. at Mattapoisett Town Beach. You can view the full sailing schedule here. 

Photos below are by Current Sports Photographer Chris Tran.