By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club’s junior sailing program capped off one of its most successful seasons after hosting a pair of big races recently.

More than 150 local sailors ages 8 to 18 competed in different races during the Yachtsman’s Junior Sailing Regatta July 31-Aug. 1. GPYC sailors Blair Listwan (Laser Radial Class) and Daniel Bracciano (Laser Full Rig Class) represented the host club with victories in their respective fleets.

Sailors from across the country, and even a few international competitors, then took part in the United States Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) Great Lakes Championship Aug. 2-3. Sara Douglas, of Barbados, captured first overall for the regatta.

While the events signaled the end of the junior competitive sailing season at GPYC, it certainly doesn’t mean the success enjoyed by the program’s members has peaked. Rather, the accession should continue next season thanks to growing numbers.

The program’s enrollment saw about a 60 percent increase this past season, jumping from about 50 members to a little more than 80.

“From a numbers standpoint, we went kind of through the roof,” said Dan Bracciano, the GPYC’s chairman of sailing.

Sailing Director Julie Hughes foresees those numbers, and in turn the team’s triumphs, will result in momentum going into the next season.

“We expect only to increase in our enrollment and success,” she said.

Aside from partaking in local regattas, many of the club’s competitive junior sailors raced in and fared well in national and regional events.

“The team did incredibly well,” Hughes said.

You can reach Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1040.