Like so many Vineyarders do, the high school sailing team gathered Monday afternoon at the Steamship Authority docks to wait for a boat.

Or, more specifically, their six boats, which rolled off the Island Home on the back of a trailer to much applause and cheering.

Thanks to gifts from Sail MV benefactors — the program provides equipment and a home base for the team — the team was able to purchase brand new 420s for the fleet. This is the first new fleet in the program’s history; previous boats were always purchased used.

“It’s exciting. It means we can get more people out on the water,” senior Jake Sudarskey said.

With the sailing team at record capacity this season — 27 sailors in all — the timing could not be better.

“We’ve known about it for a long time,” said head sailing coach Andrew Burr. “But just to see the boats here, it’s great.”