Seventy six young sailors gathered in Grand Bahama for the 2011 Optimist National Championship Regatta held over the weekend of October 1st and 2nd.  Sailors came from Long Island, Governor's Harbour, Harbour Island, Nassau, Cayman Islands and Grand Bahama. The Green (novice) Fleet had 42 competitors and the Championship Fleet had 34.

The race site with two separate courses, was off the beach of the Taino Beach Resort where the majority of visitors were staying. On Saturday a north east wind provided smooth water on the south side of the island of about  8-10 knots. Although the forecast for Sunday promised higher winds it was much the same as Saturday favoring the lighter sailors...