St. Maarten Yacht Club Sol
Optimist Championship
The St. Maarten Yacht Club held its 6th annual Sol St. Maarten Optimist Championship in November. Seventeen youths, aged eight to 14, representing BVI, Anguilla and St. Maarten, competed in nine races.
The racing took place in the Simpson Bay Lagoon in a good stiff breeze. The characteristic wind shifts made it a challenging day for the young sailors. Battling for top spot were local sailor Rhone Findlay and Sam Morrell from Tortola. They took turns crossing the finish line first, and dominated every race except one. Hot in pursuit was Alec Scarabelli. He was the only other competitor able to steal a win from Rhone and Sam. As racing reached a climax, Morrell and Findlay went into a tie-break. Morrell took the race leaving Findley and Scarabelli in second and third place respectively.
The girls showed strong form, too, with Bodine Beentjes giving Saskia Looser a run for her money. Saskia fought off the challenge, but not without some serious competition.
At the prize giving the St. Maarten Yacht Club Commodore Ian Hope-Ross presented trophies to the winners. Every competitor received a goody bag along with their photo taken while they were racing – a great souvenir of a memorable day. Thanks went to Sol for sponsoring the event and encouraging youth sailing in St. Maarten. When the question was asked why would Sol sponsor such an event? One young boy supplied the answer: "Because we're awesome!" And that about sums it up.
BVI West End Yacht Club Calendar 2011
Tortola – The West End Yacht Club has announced its Calendar for 2011 and, as always, there are some exciting events.
With more and more yacht clubs promoting traditional sailing, Commodore Martin van Houten wishes to highlight the date of the Sweethearts Regatta to all schooner and classic boat owners. The regatta is positioned around the US Presidents Day long weekend.
"We hope for the usual great turn out this year from the USVI and BVI," said Van Houten. The Commodore also promised a few surprises including the beautiful 12-meter, Kate, which is expected to arrive from St. Kitts. Kate will certainly raise some eyebrows amongst classic yacht aficionados having recently been converted from a cutter to a yawl.
The club says plans are also under way to enlarge the popular Firecracker 500 Race into and around the July 4th weekend and will release more on this later in the year.
The West End Yacht Club runs six popular regattas each year in the BVI from their informal club table at the Jolly Roger Restaurant in Soper's Hole. The club makes regular donations to local organization from its dues and race fees.
WEST END YACHT CLUB 2011 REGATTA CALENDAR
February 18 – 20: 33rd Annual Sweethearts of the
Caribbean and 29th Annual Classic Yacht Regatta
March 4 – 7: 14th Annual Dark and Stormy Regatta
May 27 – 29: 37th Annual Foxy's Wooden Boat Regatta
July 1 – 3: 20th Annual Firecracker 500 Race
October 28 – 30: 14th Annual Foxy's Cat Fight
December 2 – 3: Gustav Wilmerding 21st Annual
Memorial Challenge
For information email: mcmechanics@surfbvi.com
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