St. Croix Yacht Club
Chris Schreiber reports that over 30 sailors enjoyed a near perfect weekend of racing with winds from 12 to 18 knots in St. Croix’s Teague Bay during this year’s Cruzan Open One Design regatta (CROOD). Fleets of Optimist prams, Sunfish, 420s and Rhodes 19s completed between 15 and 20 races each on Friday and Saturday, April 10 & 11.
Race officer Ivan Diaz got things rolling on time Friday morning. In the Sunfish class, veteran Tony Sanpere worked hard to give Hector Perez a fight, but Hector’s youth and experience in the boat gave him the edge.
Windy conditions were tough for Casey Bergstrom, DJ Lorschbauh, and Eric Perez, each of whom weigh barely 100 lbs. They hung in there, however, completing all races sailed. In the Optimist class, CJ Walker, Eve Watterson, and Conrad Yanez were evenly matched, enjoying tight racing all weekend. Ryan Hunter raced on Saturday as well, showing great promise for future regattas!
Friday night the sailors and friends all gathered at the Yacht Club for a combination Wii and PS/2 tournament, and it was interesting to see the younger set give the older set a run for their money in all the games!
Saturday’s racing was officiated by seasoned PRO Nick Castruccio, who kept up Ivan’s pace. In the 420 class, Christopher Schreiber and Kyle Foster, and Sam Watterson with Katie Morgan worked hard to push class leaders Jae Tonachel and Lillian Mallory, but couldn’t quite hold them. Bethany Tonachel with Jenna Keller and Challis Diaz with Mack Bryan also kept the racing tight in this evenly matched class.
The Rhodes 19s enjoyed great racing, with five boats out! Unfortunately, Carl Beckstedt’s Blue Bell suffered a broken rudder and had to retire. Puppy II, skippered by George “Moose” Silver, Doug Castruccio’s Barb, Chris Schreiber’s Chrys, and Rett Boswell’s Rhode Trip held together and had some great racing throughout the weekend.
St. Maarten Yacht Club
This month will see the 20th St. Maarten Laser Championships, June 6 to 7, sponsored by Heineken Premium Light. For information on the Regatta, contact Frits Bus: [email protected].
The St. Maarten Yacht Club held its third annual Quantum Easter Regatta on Good Friday and Saturday afternoon, a family-oriented regatta was sailed by some of the club’s ace sailors along with their children. Racing was close and spirited as eight teams sailed in the Sunfast 20’s of Lagoon Sailboat Rentals as well as four lasers.
Teams were rewarded with tea, cookies, hot chocolate and an Easter egg hunt, which had the little ones scouring the dock and restaurant for chocolate treats, won by Nina Manley.
After battling for two afternoons, Robbie Ferron was the clear winner in the Sunfast 20s fleet. Rob Gilders, the host of the regatta, sailing with his daughter Kippy and friend Jan van den Eynde, secured second place. Third place went to Bernard Sillem.
Other participants were Guy Redmile, Garth Steyn sailing with his kids Kirsten and Luc, Ernst Looser with Saskia, Johanna and Rhone, Family Rapley and Stephane Ferron. Andrea Scarabelli won in the Laser fleet, followed by Jolyon Ferron/Stephen Looser and Harry Antrobus and Alec Scarabelli. Tim Roosens and his son Joris came in fourth. Following the prize giving, Quantum treated everyone to a traditional BBQ.
Now the club is celebrating the determination of Peter Stuyvesant (the island’s most famous resident, a stubborn Dutchman who lost his leg on the Fort Amsterdam peninsula) with a three race day Stuyvesant Series on Saturdays. The series began May 23 and continues May 30 and June 13, with racing for Optimists, Lasers and LSR boats.
St. Thomas Yacht Club
This month, the club launches a full slate of Summer Camps including Peewee Camp most of the summer (ages 4 – 7), One Week Sailing Camp (ages 8 – 13) and Yacht Club Summer Camp (ages 8 – 13) for seven weeks. Sailing instruction and plenty of activities are planned for the kids of all age groups. For information: [email protected]
