Spring regatta caps off inaugural sailing event
Matheo Capasso works to maximise strong winds on the upwind leg of the course
(CNS Local Life): The first-ever Youth Sailing Week (YSW), which ended over the long weekend at the Cayman Islands Sailing Club (CISC), attracted participants aged 10 to 18, from Belgium, Ireland, the US Virgin Islands, Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, along with Cayman’s representatives, who competed in relentless rain and cool conditions in the DART Spring Regatta.
Despite the wet weather, the sailors enjoyed the strong winds, and their development benefitted greatly from the challenging racing conditions, stated a CISC press release. Spectators, who braved the bad weather, “delighted in the fierce competition”, the CISC said, watching the lead change several times in each race, “with strategy, strength and stamina playing major factors out on the course”.
After seven races over two days, the final results for the three classes of boats participating were
Laser Fleet
First – Jesse Jackson (Cayman Islands)
Second – Will Jackson (Cayman Islands)
Third – Ava Hider (Cayman Islands)
Opti Championship fleet
First – Matheo Capasso (Cayman Islands)
Second – Otto Van Den Bergh (Belgium)
Third – Max Van Den Driessche (US Virgin Islands)
First International Sailor – Otto Van Den Bergh (Belgium)
First Girl – Olivia Jackson (Cayman Islands)
Opti Green Fleet (beginner racing group)
First – Finn Richards (Cayman Islands)
Second – Sienna Wright (Ireland)
Third – Kazimir Burt (Cayman Islands)
The Dart Spring Regatta was the culmination of Youth Sailing Week which also featured intense training clinics lead by both European and CISC coaches, the Compass Marine Pico Regatta for the most junior sailors, a demonstration of Cayman’s unique sailing heritage with a catboat race, and plenty of opportunities for the sailors to enjoy the camaraderie of their new friends, said the press release.
The Cayman fleet’s next overseas regatta is in Austin Texas, 1-3 June. Seven young sailors will represent Cayman, some competing in their first overseas regatta, others vying for podium finishes. The national team is preparing for the North American Championships to be held in Mexico at end of June and the World Championships at the end of August in Cyprus. Their training programme includes racing at the British Nationals and Irish Nationals after the Texas event.
