North Atlanta has clubs that run the gamut and there’s everything from Anime, film club, art honor societies and an equestrian club. Within our 11 stories, all interests are accommodated. But what about a club for those who want to set sail for the distant horizon and leave land behind? Well, it’s anchor’s away for these types because the North Atlanta Sailing Club surely will fit the bill.

The was started this year by sophomores Ethan Staats and Graham Lee and the waters have been so smooth that the sailing Warriors are already entering into competitions. The seven members in the club are Staats and Lee along with Nora Rosenfeld, Nazuna Kasama, Viren Aluri, Harrison Marx, and Leighton Carpenter. Practices are held at Lake Lanier Sailing Club in Flowery Branch once every other week, and occasionally on campus for classroom instruction after school. “Although the club is new, we already have a tight bond and we want to represent North Atlanta to the best of our ability in each regatta,” said Lee. “We are excited to see what the season holds for us.”

The competitions that the team participates in are known as regattas which are a series of eight boat races that make up the event.  “Whichever team places the best in the most races wins the regatta,” said Staats.

The team’s first regatta took place Oct. 14 and 15 at Lake Norman near Charlotte, N.C. North Atlanta has two experienced sailors and five who have learned to sail just this season. Already the team is racing against schools from Savannah, Charleston and Jacksonville, schools with legacy teams and programs started many years ago. The team’s coach is Alex Padgett and he said he’s been quite impressed by the spirit of his team. “I’m very proud of this team,” Padgett said. “We’re going up against teams that have water five minutes from their schools and teams that can practice several times per week.”

The North Atlanta team has three more competitions scheduled for the fall and five competitions slated for the spring. Team founders have been working for two years to see the club come together. “Racing in the first regatta as the North Atlanta Team was a huge deal for us. It let us know our sacrifices were all worth it,” Staats said.

Out of 14 teams North Atlanta’s “A” Team placed in the middle of the field and the “B” Team placed in the bottom third.  “We will continue to work hard and hope the success will translate throughout the year,” said Lee.

Despite being a new club within the sailing competitions, the North Atlanta Sailing Club has secured a name for itself and hopes to capitalize on initial success. From the results posted so far, it looks like it will be smooth sailing for the school’s newest club.