Sailing away to Nationals
The Flour Bluff Sailing Club competes in the PCISA Girl's ISSA National Invitational
Landon Atwood, Staff Writer & Sheira Capol, Writing Editor
October 17, 2024
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CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS—Despite only starting to sail seven months ago, the Flour Bluff High School Sailing Club has already made an impressive wave! The Corpus Christi sailing teams competed in the Coastal Bend Regatta and Girls National Invitational Qualifier on September 28th and 29th. Four schools participated, aiming for the two spots in the national regatta.
In a close series of nine races over two days, Houston’s Clear Lake High School narrowly beat Flour Bluff. Although the race was close, both teams qualified for the Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Association (PCISA) Girls National Invitational, which will be held in San Diego California on October 19th.
The national competition will feature 30 schools, with races running continuously from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The team is sponsored by the Corpus Christi Yacht Club (CCYC), and will send a full team of six sailors, including four starters and two reliefs, to compete against the best girls’ teams in the nation.
CCYC has generously covered the team’s expenses, including airfare, lodging, and entry fees, allowing the young sailors to focus on their training and preparation. They will depart on Thursday, October 17th at 6:30 pm, ready to showcase their skills and represent their community on a national level.
Yasmeen Djilali, one of the members in the club, shares that her journey into sailing began on a whim. To her surprise, she discovered that she genuinely enjoyed sailing and decided to stick with it. She had no prior sailing experience before joining the team. Yasmeen and her teammates practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7:30 PM and dedicates 4 hours on Saturdays into improving her skills.
"I joined it as a joke, because I thought it would be funny, and it was fun so I stayed," Djilali said. "It’s kind of confusing in the beginning, but it’s really easy to improve on.”
Sophomore Claira Shores decided to give sailing a try because many of her friends were involved in the club. Initially, she found the sport to be quite challenging and needed around 5 practices to grasp the basics. Despite having no previous sailing experience, she took the opportunity to learn something new.
"A bunch of my friends were doing it, so I tagged along. It was really hard for me starting off," Shores said. “On the water it’s pretty competitive, there’s a lot of yelling, and it’s a little aggressive.”
Sophomore Jessica Hobbs began her sailing journey when her friend Caroline convinced her to join the club. Initially, she found it difficult but believes anyone can master it with time. After a few months, it became her second nature. With prior experience from a summer camp, Caroline reignited her interest to pick up sailing again.
"Caroline just recruited the whole team, and we all just showed up! Honestly, anyone can do it,” Hobbs said. "I went to a summer camp, but then I quit. Caroline got me back into it!"
Freshman Kendra Reyes-Ortiz was drawn to sailing because it seemed fascinating. She found the sport to be quick and straightforward. Competitions are very dynamic, demanding participants to be quick and efficient. Kendra recommends others to try sailing because it’s a rare opportunity for students.
"It’s way more active, and you have to be faster with learning how to move in the water,” Reyes-Ortiz said. “Not everyone gets to try [sailing], and it’s really fun.”
Caroline Levandowski, another sophomore, began her sailing journey at the age of seven. She believes that getting started with sailing is relatively simple, but emphasizes that making significant progress demands consistent practice. Over the years, her commitment to the sport has helped her refine her skills and deepen her passion for sailing. Caroline’s love for sailing at a young age pushed her to recruit others into the club.
"It is easy to start, but if you want to get better, it takes practice,” Levandowski said.
Breanna Kreft, a junior in the club, decided to join the sailing team to explore a new activity. Although she found the initial learning curve steep, it became manageable with consistent effort. Breanna practices on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 4 to 6:30 PM, devoting herself to improving her skills. In addition to her regular practices, she actively participates in weekend regattas, where she gains valuable sailing experience.
"I wanted to try something new and challenging," Breanna said. "The initial learning curve was steep, but with consistent effort, it's manageable.”
The Flour Bluff Sailing Club’s dedication and commitment are clearly reflected in their impressive performances. Whether joining the club was on a whim or following a long-standing passion, each member contributes to the team’s success. Follow along as the team sails away to nationals!
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