BVI Bulletin - Mar 06
SAD STORY HAS HAPPY ENDING
Molly Thompson, a North Carolina teenager, has won the hearts of KATS sailors in the BVI. Molly was visiting the BVI in 2004 with her parents and brother Sam. Sam was killed in an automobile accident. Upon returning to the U.S., Molly decided to raise money as a memorial for her brother who would have just celebrated his 13th birthday.
Her efforts provided for two new Lasers for the BVI KATS program – the Sam T and the Molly T – both teens enjoyed the “Willy T” while cruising here. Nels (head of the KATS sailing program) and Linda Hagenson put on a beautiful ceremony for the presentation down in West End in front of the KATS trailer. Molly is also planning to return to Tortola in the summer of 2006 to become a volunteer instructor in the program. Talk about a great heroine – Thank you, Molly, from all of our BVI sailors
BVI CONSERVATION AND FISHERIES CERTIFY 15 IN THE FLY-FISHING PROGRAM
This was a great program that was facilitated in collaboration with the BVI Tourist Board in which participants also were certified to administer first aid and CPR. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism sent in three excellent fly-fishing professionals who also worked with Jenel Lettson, Jamila Vanterpool, Keith Dawson, Shannon Gore and Clayton Turnbull of the BVI. Bertrand Lettsome, Head of the Fisheries Dept., stated that, “This certification was an excellent initiative, as it fulfilled the objectives of empowering the local fisherman with an opportunity to participate in this potentially lucrative market. Certification will give us, as environmental guardians, the assurance that those persons engaging in this aspect of the fishing industry have acquired a standard of knowledge and proficiency that will promote environmental sustainability.” Thank you BVI government for this opportunity. The BVI has some of the best bone fishing sites in the Western Hemisphere.
MISTRESS QUICKLY WINS THE LATITUDE 18 HALYARD CHALLENGE
The annual Halyard Challenge is always the first club race of the year for the Royal BVI Yacht Club. It is sponsored by Latitude 18 – a great sport clothing shop in Road Town and Sopers Hole, Tortola. This year, it was the students that took home the honors.
With a team of young sailing enthusiasts from the BVI Watersports Centre, Guy Eldridge’s Melges 24, Mistress Quickly, was first over the start and kept the lead during the entire race. These racers, who are young and unseasoned, had it all together for this event, never letting the competition in for a minute. However, the IC24s did give them a run for the money even after a pile-up at the start.
Mark Plaxton’s IC-24 was second on corrected time with Andrew Waters’ IC-24 finishing in 3rd place. The race started in Road Harbour with a beat to Fat Hogs Bay. Then, rounding the mark, there was a downwind leg to Nanny Cay, then around Dead Chest Island on a close hauled leg. Competitors then headed back to Nanny Cay before reaching into the finish off of Road Reef and the yacht club. Crew for Mistress Quickly was – Elsa Meyers, Godfrey Gumbs and Rayshawn and Raymore Mercer.
Congratulations to these fine junior sailors and to Guy for always making his Melges available for students who love to race. It is because of racers like this that we have a very formidable junior team emerging in the BVI.
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