Rain turned to sun at the People’s Pier on Friday afternoon as sailors, parents and grandparents gathered on the Washington waterfront.

“We’ve been out here doing what we’ve been doing for nine seasons, and it’s not possible without all of your support,” Kevin Clancy, Little Washington Sailing School program director told the assembled crowd.

The Little Washington Sailing School graduated 16 sailors at its second graduation of the year Friday. Sailors lined the rail of People’s Pier after a week of adverse weather and tough sailing. But the sailors capped off the week with a sunny, 45 minute, 3-mile sail. Clancy said the week before, the sailors barely made it to Washington Park.

“If the weather goes south, there is nothing we can really do about that,” Clancy said. “We missed three sessions of sailing this week, so we were kind of behind the eight ball on that, but this, right here, today, this is the way to end it.”

Awards for the most qualified sailors were given to Stephen Pleasants and Julian Chavez by instructors Charles Pfieffer and Maura Dahn, respectively.

“I like to say that this is the person that I would always want out sailing with me. Not necessarily because they are the best, but because I know they will have a good attitude, and I know they’ll try,” Dahn said.

Clancy said if the past two weeks are any indication of the rest of the summer will be like, he’s excited for the remaining sessions. With 16 sailors, they almost reached their capacity this session.

Week after week, Clancy said he’s just as excited as the last to come out on a Friday and see sailors on the water far beyond the train trestle, as well as graduate the latest round of new sailors from the school.

“I walk out here, and I get jazzed. I just look out and say, ‘right on,’” Clancy said.

There are still seven sailing sessions left for the summer, including a regatta week Aug. 7-11. Clancy said he’ll be scoping out sailors every week to participate in the weeklong sailing race on the Pamlico River. Registrations forms can be found online at www.littlewashingtonsailingschool.org.