2nd Island Sloop Shoot Out Heads BVI Water Festival

Tortola Sloops are becoming a part of the main stream in BVI
Culture. More and more attention is being given to the sloops, and their
heritage, as they participate in local activities. Youth Instructor’s new mast was just in time for the 2nd
Annual Island Sloop Shoot-Out as a part of the Water Sports Agenda during the
BVI Festival. Dr. Orlando Smith, Chief Minister of the BVI, won the Sloop
Shoot-out over BVI Governor Thomas Macan when Macan was late over the start line. Moonbeam and Youth
Instructor, the two Tortola Sloops owned by the government and maintained
by Geoff Brooks and Al Fraiser of the H. Lavity Stout Community College, were raced close to shore
at Road Harbour where the audience on land could actually view the competition.
The event was co-sponsored by the West End Yacht Club and the VI Power Boat
Association. WEYC Commodore Dave Cooper and Race Captain Martin Van Houten ran the Committee Boat that
exchanged the crews between races so that each crew sailed each boat. Dr.
Smith’s crew consisted of Laurens Blok, of the college, and Duane Smith,
President of the VI Power Boat Association. Gov. Macan’s
crew was John Shirley, a 3-time BVI Olympic sailor and El Richardson, veteran
sailor and owner of Richardson’s
Rigging. Bobby Gray donated his personal powerboat for
the press with Jim Linskey at the helm. All in all, it was a great morning and
was enjoyed by all. It is always a pleasure to see these sloops out and about.
I must say that the addition of the new mast is a great improvement for
Youth Instructor.