How competitive is high school sailing?

Just started sailing as a hobby and I'm loving it so far! I've heard about high school sailing competitions and I'm super curious. How competitive is high school sailing generally? Is there a region that's particularly known for intense competition? Thanks for the help!

High school sailing can be fairly competitive, depending on the region and the intensity of the individual team's program. Some areas known for sailing, like the East and West coasts, specifically New England and California, often have more competitive high school sailing scenes due to the prevalence of sailing as a sport and the favorable maritime environments. In these areas, you'll find teams with rigorous training schedules and large regattas.

However, the level of competitiveness also depends significantly on the school's emphasis on sailing, the team's resources, and the overall interest in sailing within the student population. Sailors are generally required to master the basics of not just sailing but also safety on water, reading weather conditions, and navigation. Keep in mind that sailing schools also often provide opportunities for students to engage in regattas, or sailing competitions, which can introduce another layer of competitiveness.

For high school sailors interested in competing at a higher level, there also exists the Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA), which is the governing body for high school sailing in the United States. They organize a range of championships at district and national levels which make the competition much sterner.

Remember though, while competition can certainly provide motivation and a sense of accomplishment, the most important thing is that you're enjoying the sport and learning valuable skills along the way.