2026 Spring News

The Orcas Race Team has kicked off its Spring 2026 NWISA season. Thirteen sailors are practicing three days a week on West Sound and have a busy regatta schedule over the next three months. Tate Wester is the head coach and is supported by a great core group of volunteers.

You can follow the team’s regatta results on TechScore (Spring 2026 | ISSA Real-Time Regatta Results) — look for Orcas, SSIS, and FH results. For example, here are the Week 5 results: Peninsula Regional | Spring 2026 | ISSA Real-Time Regatta Results. https://scores.hssailing.org/s26/peninsula-regional/

There’s still time for a high school or middle school student to join the team this spring: UltraCamp

High school sailor June Bernhardt has designed a new team logo, revitalizing Jake White’s 2009 design. Purchase shirts, hats, and other swag to support the team at Sail Orcas @ Bonfire

Summer lesson enrollment opens March 30 at Sail Orcas. We’re excited to have Moose Kinsey leading the summer youth sailing camps again this year. We’re also offering Adult Coed and Women’s sailing lessons in our Vanguard 15s.

The complete Sail Orcas calendar of regattas, open houses, and events can be found here: Team Up Contact: Burke Thomas at orcassailingcoach@gmail.com for more information.

Upcoming Summer Sessions

Summer Youth Sailing

For ages 8 to 14 we teach morning beginner lessons. The class is mostly done in Optimist sailboats. Once your sailor has had a few weeks of beginner classes and are feeling comfortable in the boat alone, we offer afternoon intermediate and advanced options. Intermediate and Advanced classes use Optimists, O'pen Bics, Lasers, V-15s and FJ's. Additionally, the afternoon Intermediate/Advanced Race Clinics teach kids the fundamentals of racing and are open to sailors ages 10-18.

Adult Sailing

For ages 18 and up we offer evening sailing sessions during the summer. Summer co-ed and women's classes (for all who identify as women) provide an opportunity to develop skills and friendships on the water. We use FJ's, and V-15s. Content and instruction will vary depending on the class size and experience.

High School and Middle School Racing

We welcome all Orcas students 7th through 12th grade with an interest in continuing their sailing progression to join us this Spring for local practices and competitive opportunities. Practices will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after school, with opportunities to travel regionally for regattas, clinics, or joint practices with other teams. We primarily sail the double-handed Flying Junior (FJ), a 13ft dinghy with two sails. Additionally, we will have Laser Radials and Laser 4.7s to accommodate additional sailors in smaller single-handed boats. Contact us for more information on the summer race circuit.

2025 Year End Message

As we near the end of 2025, it's time to reflect and celebrate all that we've accomplished together—and to ask for your support in making 2026 even better. 2025 has been an incredible year for Sail Orcas, thanks to your generosity. Your support brings the joy of sailing to Orcas Island.

Sail Orcas is a volunteer-run nonprofit that's all about getting people of all ages out on the water. Whether it's through introducing youth to sailing, helping adults discover a new hobby, or teaching our school sailing team how to race, we're passionate about making sailing accessible to everyone. Our mission is to teach the skills of this lifetime sport, while fostering teamwork, sportsmanship, camaraderie, and marine stewardship.

• More than 350 people participated in our learn-to-sail, community programs and race teams.
• Sail Orcas Open Houses with free sailboat rides were very well attended by the community.
• Orcas Highschool Sailing Team Alum Moose Kinsey did an excellent job as head instructor for our 2025 summer sailing camps. Miranda Jones, Emmett Beadnall, Else Ranker and Wolf Zohar all helped making the camps a big success. Owen said, "The summer camp instructors were amazing and taught me so much about sailing! I did it several weeks in a row!"
• Orcas Middle School Exploratory classes were well received with Yotam Zohar, Robin Hirsch, LJ Miller and Tate Wester organizing the kids and OIHS students Leo Battles, Wolf Zohar and Forrest Miller stepping up to instruct the students on the water.
• Head coach Tate Wester, Justin Blevins and many other volunteers did a great job coaching the OIHS & OIMS sailing team this fall! Ellery said "Everyone has been very welcoming and supportive on the sailing team! I really enjoy learning new ways to sail (even backwards!)"
• Women's Learn to Sail classes went well thanks to instructors, Stephanie Arnold, Robin Hirsch and Christina Wolfe.

How you can help:

• Make a Donation: Any amount helps us reach our goals! Donate today at the Orcas Island Community Foundation's Sail Orcas online fund or send a check to Sail Orcas, PO Box 1226. Eastsound WA 98245-1226
• Share Our Story: Help spread the word by sharing this letter with your friends, family, and fellow sailors. The more people who know about Sail Orcas, the more lives we can impact.
• Volunteer: It takes help from the community to run programs like this. There are many opportunities for both sailors and non-sailors to help. Please contact me at orcassailingcoach@gmail.com

Together, we're making a lasting impact on the lives of our sailors and the broader Orcas Island community. Thank you for your continued support—without it, none of this would be possible.

Warmly,

Burke Thomas,
President Sail Orcas