The Richmond Hill High School sailing team started the season strong last weekend, taking third place in the 13-boat fleet in the Brunswick Open Regatta.

Senior Valerio Petris and crew Elizabeth Tompkins sailed strong in A Division, winning all but two of the eight races in the series. It was Petris’ debut after moving to Richmond Hill as an exchange student from Spain.

Junior Michael Lane and crew Madelyn Hansen sailed B Division to a fifth-place finish. B Division finished out of the top 5 only three times during the eight-race series.

“This will be a fun group to watch this season as they continue to push each other at practice,” RHHS sailing coach Carrie Rohde said.

Richmond Hill also sailed a junior-varsity team in the Brunswick Open. Junior Chandler Cunningham and crew Sadie Ingram sailed A division for the JV team while junior Jacob Winters sailed B Division, alternating crews Issac Westerling, Ian Westerling and Joseph Lane.

The Richmond Hill High School team has 18 sailors this season, with half the team returning from last season and nine new members.

“Many sailors are starting to participate in Savannah Sailing Center’s learn-to-sail programs prior to high school, which is making a big difference in the strength of the team,” Rohde said. “We are excited to see several middle school sailors currently participating in the fall elementary/middle school program at Savannah Sailing Center.”

Richmond Hill High School’s first home regatta will from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday off of the public Sunbury boat ramp.

“We are expecting 19 teams to participate from Brunswick up to Cape Fear, North Carolina,” Rohde said.