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Athlete of the Week: Kaitlin Hynes

Sport: Co-ed Sailing, senior captain

When & how you got involved in this sport: I started sailing over the summer when I was around 8 or 9 in 2016. I have sailed on the Cape for 9 years and started sailing because my brother tried it out a year before, and really enjoyed it.

What you love most about this sport: One thing I love about this sport is how different the conditions can be based on the wind or waves, and so each day is different. Since the weather can change so much in just a practice, it makes it more interesting because you have to adjust to the different conditions.

Pre-race routine: Whenever we have an away meet, we will play music on the bus to get ready for the races.

Top goal for this season: I want to work hard and try to do well at the upcoming fleet racing events, but I also want to have a lot of fun and enjoy the season because it is my last one.

Thoughts about this year’s team: The team has been great. Everyone has been working hard at practice to improve, and there is great team spirit. They have created a really fun and supportive environment. They put a lot of effort into practice to push themselves to get better, and I feel like we have a really close bond.

An accomplishment that you’re especially proud of: I’m proud of getting first place at the Sharon Invite last year and at States my sophomore year.

An inspiring story related to your involvement in the sport/this team: It’s always fun at the end of the season, when it gets warmer, people will go swimming or end up falling in the water.

Interests outside of your sport: In school, I am interested in chemistry, biology, and math. Outside of school, I like cooking and hanging out with my friends and family.

What other sports do you play, if any? I did alpine skiing during the winter season.

Coach Larry Lovett on Kaitlin Hynes: “Kaitlin is one of the top sailors we’ve seen. Some of her accomplishments:

2022

2^nd in the Herreshoff Girls’ qualifier

2023

1st in her fleet in the State Championships (Top girl skipper)
2^nd in her fleet in the Freshman/Sophomore regatta
2^nd in the Donald Green regatta

4^th in the Sharon Invitational

2024

1^st Sharon Invitational

2^nd in the MBL Fleet races
2^nd as lead skipper in the Linda Juliano Team Race tourney
3^rd in the O’Day qualifiers

4^th in the Donald Green regatta

Kaitlin has been a top skipper in the league since her 9th grade year. This year, as our top skipper, we expect her to help us stay near the top of the Mass Bay League as well as in the New England School Sailing Association.

As a mentor and role model to our younger sailors she is the best we could expect. In a sport where competitors must call their own fouls and exonerate themselves, she certainly leads in sportsmanship and fair play.”

(Athletes of the Week are nominated by their coaches.)

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