The Tribune

THE sixth annual KPMG Youth Winter Championship was held March 9-10 by Bahamas National Sailing School (BNSS) and Nassau Yacht Club (NYC) on Montagu Bay.

This regatta is one of four major junior events held each year in The Bahamas and attracts sailors from a number of Family Islands.

Classes sailed were Optimist Dinghies (ages eight to 14) Championship and Green (beginner) fleets, Laser (Radials and 4.7) and Sunfish. With 62 participants in all, results showed just how competitive our young sailors are in the region.

The sailing conditions for the two-day, seven-race regatta were extremely challenging on Saturday with winds up to 22 knots gusting to 25, yet almost all of sailors raced.

Fortunately by Sunday morning winds subsided to 12-15 knots out of the east making for near perfect race conditions.

Joshua Weech (Nassau Yacht Club/Bahamas National Sailing School), aged 13, clinched first place in the Optimist Championship Fleet of 38 competitors by beating Anton Gottberg (Lyford Cay Sailing Club) by less than a foot in the last race. Anton dominated on the first day in the heavy breeze by winning all three races. Joshua was second in each of these. To win overall, Joshua needed to place first in all four races on Sunday, with the assumption that Anton would take second in each of Sunday’s races. The last race was a nail-biter with both sailors changing places numerous times and in the end Joshua pulled it off. This was truly racing at its best. Anton was second overall and Kaemen Floyd (Bahamas National Sailing School), who celebrated his 10th birthday on Sunday, was third.

The Green Fleet (beginners) was made up of nine sailors. Not all were able to handle the big breeze on the first day but those who managed went home feeling proud about themselves.

Issa Bournas (Lyford Cay Sailing Club) took first place. Josiah Moss (Harbour Island) was second and Alexander Johnson (Harbour Island) was third.

Tristan Eldon (NYC/ BNSS) won the Laser Class with Max Wassitsch (RNSC/BNSS) placing second and Joshua Higgins (Harbour Island ) third.

Maryetta Johnson (CC Sweeting/BNSS) was first in the Sunfish Class, followed by Noah Simmons (Harbour Island) second and Ellienne Higgs (RNSC) third.

This regatta served as one of three qualifiers for the Bahamas’ team of 14 sailors competing in the Optimist North American Championship which is scheduled to be hosted by NYC and BNSS September 27 to October 4.

This will be the largest sailing event ever held in The Bahamas with 160 to 180 junior sailors from more than 20 countries competing.

“A special thank you is extended to KPMG as sponsor and to Nassau Yacht Club and Bahamas National Sailing School for hosting this event,” said a press release.

• Article courtesy of

Robert Dunkley