Last weekend, a group of Optimist sailors from the Royal BVI Yacht Club participated in the VIODA Dinghy Championships in St. Thomas.
The three-day regatta was hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club. The event kicked off on Friday with a day of team racing. The Royal BVI Yacht Club team reached the final and won the event with a 2-0 victory.
The team consisted of Thad Lettsome, Rayne Duff, Nathan Haycraft and Julian van den Driessche (ISV).
According to a RBVIYC press release, team racing is where two four-person teams face off in the best of three competitions. The objective is to get the bulk of your team to finish before your opponent, so tactics are key — slowing other competitors down is as important as going faster than others.
“It’s very challenging and exciting to race as well as watch,” the release added.
Team BVI is training with hopes of sending a full team to the North Americans regatta in July.
On Saturday, strong wind gusts and heavy squalls did not stop the sailors from completing a full day of fleet racing.
Two more VI sailors, James Dawson and Haydon Saunders, joined the group of junior sailors.
Rayne finished in second position overall that day, while Thad was in fourth.
Unfortunately, Nathan had to call it a day after losing a piece of his rigging. He was able to get a replacement for the last day and had two sixth place finishes to 12th overall and second in the White Fleet.
James sailed consistently to finish in ninth overall.
Haydon won the Green Fleet.
“Haydon has moved up fast from new sailor to racer by attending after school and weekend lessons multiple times a week with our new coaches,” the RBVIYC release stated.
Rayne had to leave Saturday evening and was unable to take part in Sunday’s racing, which dropped him down to eighth overall.
Thad finished in fourth place overall and second in the Blue Fleet.
The juniors made the trip and on a Moorings’ power catamaran, which also served as their accommodation for the weekend.
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