The Tribune

HARSH weather conditions made this year’s Optimist/Jr Laser Winter Championship Regatta hosted by the Nassau Yacht Club a challenging event all around.

It was blowing 20 to 25 knots and temperatures during the days plummeted into the 60s, but junior sailors braved the elements and raced both Saturday and Sunday.

When winds though on Saturday afternoon got up to 25 knots and gusting over 30, the Race Committee was forced to postpone racing until Sunday.

Despite the frigid temperatures, the young sailors enjoyed the competition. Through chattering teeth, they bragged bout their ability to handle their boats in such strong winds – a major physical accomplishment, particularly for the youngest 9-11 year olds.

“Sailing in these conditions is great for the kids. It really helps to build their confidence. Once you have sailed in 20 knots, 15 becomes easy, once you have sailed in 25 knots, 20 becomes easy. Besides, if you travel to regattas away there is a good chance you will be sailing in conditions like these or even worse, so it is good we get used to it at a young age,” said coach Robert Dunkley.

Youth sailors from Freeport, Abaco and Harbour Island came to Nassau to compete in this event, which is one of four major championship regattas held each year for juniors. This was also the last of five events used as a qualifier for the Optimist World Championships and ISAF Youth World Championship, which will be held this summer in Italy and Cypress respectively.

Four boats competed in the more senior Laser Radial Class. Nicholas Rolle from Freeport and Paul de Souza from Nassau battled it out for top spot throughout. In the heavy winds Nicholas dominated, winning 4 out of six races and when the winds were down a bit Paul managed to get out ahead and win. At the end of the day Nicholas won the class, beating Paul by two points. Due to points gathered in earlier events, including events in Florida as well as the Junior Laser National Championship, which Paul won, Paul has earned the right to represent The Bahamas this year at the ISAF Youth World Championships in the Boy’s Laser Class.

Paul, Nicholas and Audry O’Brien who will likely represent the Bahamas in the Girl’s Laser Class at the ISAF Worlds, along with Coaches Robert Dunkley and David Valentine (Freeport) will be heading to Dominican Republic later this month for a high level coaching clinic for top coaches and Laser Radial Sailors in the Caribbean sponsored by the International Sailing Federation.

The Laser 4.7 class, a boat designed for the very lightweight Laser sailors, was won by Alande Forbes who took five out of six races. Dwayne Dames was second and Nathaniel Major third. This is the class the young sailors advance to when coming out of the Optimist class as a result of their size or age (maximum 15 years old).

The Optimist Advanced (Gold) Fleet of 9 boats was dominated by National Champion Spencer Cartwright (Nassau) who won five out of the six races. Cochise Burrows (Nassau) was second and Branden Sands (Abaco) was third. This win secured Spencer’s place on the team going to the Optimist World Championship. The other two or three participants going to this event as team members will be decided on at a later date.

There was very close racing in the Optimist Intermediate (Silver) Fleet of 11 boats. At the end of the first day Richard Spurlock was in the lead with Hercude Estime one point behind him. By his smart sailing in the first race on Sunday Hercude moved ahead to first in the series and never looked back. He won; Richard was second and Gustavo Perla – Ellison was third by way of a tiebreak between him and two other sailors. Results between the top five boats could not have been closer.

Congratulations to all the sailors and a special thank you to the Nassau Yacht Club for hosting this event and again to the BSA junior programme sponsors Bahamas Hot Mix, East Nassau Rotary, KPMG, Palm Cay, Bahamas Ferries, Royal Bank, Coca Cola, Odyssey Aviation, Cable Bahamas & Cable Cares, Kerzner Corporation, Cardinal Co. Ltd. and Ministry of Sports.