MOUNT DESERT ISLAND — Local high school sailors traveled to Mount Desert Island last weekend and took second place overall in the Great Harbor Regatta.

Northwest gusts to 25 knots ripped across Southwest Harbor as 10 teams from all over Maine and New Hampshire battled there way around the buoys for a total of eight races.

10 sailors from area schools sailed for Rockland Community Sailing, and in a great team effort, broke into the top three at a statewide varsity level regatta for the first time.

The RCS roster at the Great Harbor Regatta included Josh Moorehouse from Midcoast Christian, Elliot Spear from Oceanside East, Isabel Corona-Ferlauto from Oceanside West, and Jillian Galloway, Warren Galloway, Peter Galloway, Isabel Crane, Louisa Crane, Hallie MacDougall, and Jesse Dunn, all from the Watershed School.

A big regatta highlight came in the sixth race when Watershed senior Isabel Crane and sophomore Jillian Galloway capped Isabel Crane's high school career with a first place finish in the A division. "These girls beat every boat in a very competitive co-ed fleet. The RCS team has come a long way in the last few years, and it feels good to see it in the results,” said Coach Pat DiLalla.

In the critical last race, Isabel Crane's twin sister Louisa recovered quickly from an icy capsize at the leeward mark with her crew Elliot Spear, and held off three boats to clinch second place for the team.

Results are not known until some time after the racing is finished, so the team was quite surprised when they heard "Rockland" called at the awards ceremony and a buzz of excitement ensued as the 10 sailors flocked around the trophy for photos.

Reach the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.