By RENALDO DORSETT
Tribune Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
A PAIR of Bahamian sailors advanced to this weekend’s gold fleet for the final series of races at the Optimist North American Championships, hosted at the Nassau Yacht Club.
Patrick Tomlinson and Zane Munro earned their gold fleet qualification to lead the 19-member team of Bahamian athletes at the event which includes 155 sailors from 20 countries across the globe competing in Montagu Bay.
Participating sailors hail from Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, the United States, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Sailing in the red group, Tomlinson had finishes of 22nd, 20th, 16th, third and 11th in the qualifying races. Munro’s first three races were in the yellow group with finishes of 13th, 25th, and 20th and in the red group, he finished fourth and 24th in his final two races.
Other members of Team Bahamas include Craig Ferguson II, Finley McKinney-Lambert, Norman Cartwright, Eliza Denning, Sienna Jones, Jude McCarroll, Mary Jacqueline Nash, Joss Knowles, Emit Knowles, Erik Jensen, Johannes Maritz, Callum Pritchard, Alethea Tsoumpas, Taryn McKinney-Lambert, Johan Hauber, Conry Raine, and Javien Rankine.
The head coach of the team is Martin Manrique.
The first two days of competition featured fleet racing and races in the qualification series.
The format now shifts to Team Racing and Nations Cup, and finally will conclude with the Final Series of fleet racing.
The Bahamas last hosted the event in 2019.
Sigrid Beckmann, Vice President Americas, International Optimist Dinghy Association, welcomed the international fleet of sailors at Monday’s opening ceremony.
“We cannot be happier to be back in the clear blue waters of the Bahamas and to meet all of you again in this wonderful venue where we have always been received with incredible hospitality and fabulous sailing conditions.
“I want to thank the organising committee, all the volunteers, the Nassau Yacht Club, The Bahamas Optimist Class, and the sailors of team Bahamas for working so hard to make this event happen and for welcoming us with open arms and so much kindness,” she said.
“Enjoy this incredible venue with your teammates and friends, new and old. Have a great week of sailing, friendship, nature and endless sun.”
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