Trinidad dominated the Laser and Optimist Classes at the 19th Sailing Sailing week of Schoelcher Pan American Championship, returning home with six medals, including two golds from four classes entered.
Rain showers and gusts of almost 20 knots greeted the sailors to the event on a daily basis. The racing course was set near the land, making for some difficult shifts and gusts throughout the event, but this did not affect the excellent performance by the Trinidad team.
Wesley Scott consistently scored top three finishes in the Optimist class to finish third in a high quality fleet of 65 boats. Derek Poon Tip made the podium in third place in the under 12 category after sailing a very successful regatta. Matthew Scott and Anthony Alkins took turns at winning races at the front of the Laser 4.7 class as they both pulled out an unassailable lead over the chasing 21-boat fleet, Scott eventually taking the event from Alkins with a race to spare.
It was a similar story at the front of the Laser Radial class where the Leighton brothers (Stuart and James) regularly exchanged positions at the front before Stuart took the title with a race to spare. James left his charge for the second spot on the podium late by winning the last race and Elliot of Martinique unable to finish higher than fourth due to Stuart holding him back. This allowed the Leightons to take a 1,2 on the podium, with Aaron Barcant in fifth having suffered gear failure all week.
Report and photographs courtesy of Esther van Santen, Senior Administrative Coach, Trinidad and Tobago Youth Sailing School
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