POULSBO — Numerous tall, white-sheeted fins cut back and forth through the waters of Liberty Bay, cruising amidst one another this Tuesday in what appeared to be seemingly endless chaos.

In the spring, this scene plays out most afternoons near the Poulsbo Marina, as the North Kitsap Sailing Team competes in mock races between its own boats so on the weekends, it can travel to take on other high school squads.

Much of what they undertake has to be done without school assistance. The team is not recognized by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and it’s not sponsored by North Kitsap High School as an official sport. But that doesn’t mean these sailors are any less the athletes of other sports.

The sailing team, which consists of more than 30 students from grades eighth through 12th, must utilize the racing skills of a NASCAR driver, the mental skills similar to those of a chess player, and, of course, the seafaring skills of a ship’s captain.

Besides, commented coach Ron Seevers, the talents they develop on the seas are ones they can always use.

“This is better than most high school sports in that they can do this the rest of their lives,” Seevers said.

The eight-year coach, along with veteran coach Matt Mikkelborg, are again guiding the athletes toward the biggest competitions of the year. The first is the Northwest District Championships today, held off the shores of Orcas Island.

From there, they’ll have a team racing competition May 7-8 in Port Angeles and chances to go to nationals competition later in the month. Of the six teams in the district — North Kitsap, Bainbridge, Port Angeles, Anacortes, Friday Harbor and Orcas Island — only one from each of this weekend’s competition and the team racing championships go on to the national level.

The team competes in two-man boats and events are broken into two categories — fleet racing and team racing. Fleet racing sees all competitors go for the fastest finish whereas team racing adds a twist.

In the unique format, each team of boats tries to get all the top spots, each of which account for a point (example: 1st place is one point, 2nd is two points, and so on). The team with the lowest points wins.

That means that holding certain teams back by getting in their nautical paths is a defensive strategy all teams can employ to help their chances.

“It’s all about control,” Seevers said. “So your team can come in with the lowest number.”

On a recent day at practice, Mikkelborg summed up what each of the sailors need to do in order to win in the team format.

“Think about what they’re thinking about,” Mikkelborg told them. “Try to anticipate.”

But even before opponents can be introduced, there is much each sailor must learn.

“It’s a lot of rule based stuff,” said senior sailor Nicole Parigard. “You have to know the wind shifts, natural obstacles and tons of rules.”

There’s also talking to your fellow mates on the seas.

“It’s all about the communication,” Parigard said. “You have to be able to do it on the water.”

The discipline of sailing also makes it worthwhile, yet challenging at the same time, commented senior Nick Wayland.

“You have to show up whether it’s really miserable out or a great day,” he said. “You always have to give 110 percent.”

To say the sailing team is less competitive than the other squads at North Kitsap High School would also be a misnomer.

“Down with Bainbridge!” Parigard likes to say of their closest rivals.

Regardless of the outcome this weekend, coach Seevers said he’s happy to have worked with the group as he’s done for the previous eight years, from when his own son was on the team.

“I like watching the kids,” Seevers said. “Seeing them grow and become more responsible.”

He is quick, however, to give credit to Mikkelborg as the reason the program exists.

“Matt started this whole thing — he founded sailing in Poulsbo,” Seevers said. “No matter what anyone else will tell you, he’s it.”