The KPMG Youth Winter Championship was held last weekend, March 14 & 15 at the Nassau Yacht Club in near perfect sailing conditions on Montagu Bay. On Saturday, winds were 14 to 17 knots out of the east, which made for a steady breeze and great waves for surfing. This regatta is one of the four major junior events held each year in The Bahamas and attracts sailors from a number of Family Islands. There were 49 participants at this event from New Providence, Harbour Island and Long Island, and results showed just how competitive our young sailors are throughout the country. The Optimist class was divided into three separate fleets: the Gold for advanced international level sailors, the Silver for intermediate level sailors and the Green for beginners (first year of racing).
Tristan Eldon, 12, from Nassau, won his first major sailing event. He has been close in the past, but has now finally done it, winning first place in the Optimist Gold Fleet. Coach Robert Dunkley said, "It was just a matter of time. Tristan has always had 'a special feel for the helm'. He is fast and now with Coach Browning's help with tactics he has come through with a big win."
Second and third respectively in the Gold Fleet were Maclean Goodfellow (Nassau), who was only six points behind Tristan and Melisha Higgins (Harbour Island) who also took honors as "Top Female". The Silver fleet saw very close racing among the top three sailors. Ketelyn Cambridge from Harbour Island managed to pull off first place overall even though she had boat problems and had to retire from the third race. Taking second place with only three points behind her was Harrison Buckner (Nassau). Ten year old Jason Spurlock was third.
On Saturday, winds were a bit too strong for the Optimist Green Fleet (beginners), but on Sunday, with a lighter breeze six youngsters showed up at the start and were coached around the course by Coach Donico Brown. They had three races, and in the end eight-year-old Joshua Weech (Nassau) took top honors. P.J Carusi (Harbour Island) and Colleen Woods (Harbour Island) were second and third respectively.
Paul de Souza (Nassau) continued his dominance in the Laser Radial Class. He won six out of the seven races in the series. Spencer Cartwright took second place and Cochise Burrows third. Benjamin Derbyshire, who has just moved up from Optimists to Lasers won the only race De Souza didn't.
"I am so pleased to see how well our sailors are able to transition from Optimists to Lasers (Olympic Class)" said Dunkley. "Also it is great to see the amount of interest there is these days in Laser sailing." The Laser 4.7 Class was won by Tahj Ramirez, another sailor who has recently moved from Optimists to Lasers. In second place was Daisy Tinkler, who also received honors as Top Female in the Laser Class.
Paloma Cartwright from Long Island won the Sunfish Class with all firsts. Antwaun Dean (Harbour Island) was second and Gregory Lindsey (Nassau) third.
To quote Dunkley: "We are so pleased to see our junior sailing program growing the way it is. The number of students from Government schools is growing with thanks to assistance from Coach Frank Johnson at T.A.Thompson High School and their Principle Dwayne Higgins, who himself is a keen sailor and serious competitor in the Sloop Class. If it keeps growing this way we will soon need a sailing centre of our own."
Congratulations to all the sailors and a special thank you to KPMG for sponsoring this event and to Nassau Yacht Club for allowing us (BSA) to use their facility.
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