The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamian duo of Joss Knowles and Tamaj Manos are all set to begin competition in the 55th International Sunfish Class Association (ISCA) Open Water Championships.

The duo, representing the Exuma Sailing Club, will begin competition in a 12-race series that will wrap up on Friday at the Hotel on the Cay in St Croix, US Virgin Islands.

Head coach Dallas Knowles said after going through their practice rounds on Monday, following the completion of the junior competition where the Bahamas had four competitors.

"The wind has finally gone around the east where it is always supposed to be coming from and it has settled in, so we should have some consistent racecourse," Knowles said.

He noted that the junior sailors had some challenges when they competed last week with a number of races called off due to the weather. But Knowles said they're hoping for more favorable conditions this week.

"The team was on the water today, Joss and Tanaj were practicing together with some of the American sailors, doing a lot of drills and they looked very good," Knowles said.

"They were able to hold their own and they beat some of them, so we feel good about their preparation and their speed. One thing we have been working on that they can't practice for is the size of the fleet that they are racing against."

But from every aspect of their training, Knowles said the Bahamian duo is all set to start competing today with the first of their three races in the series.

During the first week of the championships that wrapped up over the weekend, the combo of Emit Knowles, Abel Ponore and Khden Knowles all competed in the youth championships for under-19 competitors.

The competitors all thanked the "Friends of Exuma" for sponsoring them to the championships where Ponorre was honored as the youngest competito at the age of 14.