GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailing Team faced a day of tactical tests and ever-changing conditions Saturday at the Old Florida Trophy, held on Lake Wauburg.

With winds swinging from very light to sharply gusty between races — and significant shifts occurring within individual heats — sailors were pushed to adapt quickly and think strategically on every leg of the course. The unstable breeze created dramatic position changes throughout the day, rewarding teams that could stay patient and capitalize on opportunities as they developed.

Palm Beach Atlantic finished the regatta with 57 total points, showing resilience and growth across both divisions.

In A Division, freshman skipper Gabby Ramia led the Sailfish effort, sailing with sophomore crew Jacey Daly in races one and two before freshman Brayden Valliere stepped in for races three through five. The trio combined for a 29-point finish, steadily improving as the day progressed. After opening with finishes of 7th and 9th, the A Division boat found momentum with a strong 5-4-4 stretch to close out the regatta, demonstrating increasing confidence in the shifting breeze.

B Division delivered a similarly competitive performance, tallying 28 points. Junior skipper Nathan Hjort paired with freshman crew Grace VanGessel to post finishes of 7, 5, 7, 3, and 6. Their third-place result in race four highlighted their ability to read the course and react decisively as gusts and major wind shifts reshaped the fleet.

The defining storyline of the regatta was adaptability. One race demanded delicate boat speed in fading air, while the next required aggressive hiking and quick tactical calls to handle building pressure. Large wind shifts within races often reshuffled the order dramatically, forcing sailors to keep their heads on a swivel and make split-second decisions.

For a roster featuring a blend of veteran leadership and developing underclassmen talent, the Old Florida Trophy served as another step forward. Ramia and Valliere gained valuable experience in volatile conditions, while Hjort's steady presence in B Division helped anchor the team through the most unpredictable moments of the day.

Though the final standings reflected the challenges of the fleet, the Sailfish once again demonstrated growth in communication, composure, and tactical awareness — key traits as the season continues.

In a regatta defined by uncertainty, Palm Beach Atlantic proved it can compete through the shifts, the gusts, and everything in between.