Waccamaw (South Carolina) High School is expanding its athletic opportunities to include a sailing club.

Sophomore Griffin DesMarteau was looking for an opportunity to sail competitively after moving from Oregon to Pawleys Island, South Carolina. At the urging of his mother, he created his own opportunity starting with a sailing school at the South Carolina Maritime Museum in Georgetown.

Waccamaw Principal David Hammel was supportive of the sailing club and 130 students signed up for information during class registration.

The team is coached by Tim Fitzgerald, a former sailor at the University of Kansas who now teaches sailing to anyone who is interested – no matter their age or level of expertise.

The six boats – Vanguard 420s – the team will be using were donated by Charleston Community Sailing. The team also received a $2,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Pawley’s Island that will be used to refurbish and outfit the donated boats for competition.

Waccamaw’s sailing team began practicing on September 24 from its donated space at the Hazzard Marine in Georgetown after DesMarteau, along with fellow sophomores Jacob O’Tuel and Michael O’Tuel, presented plans to start the club to the school board. Two weeks following their presentation, they were informed by Superintendent Randy Dozier that the board did not need to vote on their plans and that they could begin practice.

There are 47 students on the team and they began competing in regattas in October.