The Tribune

THE seventh annual Bahamas Youth Olympic Regatta was held by Nassau Yacht Club and Bahamas National Sailing School February 15-16 in Montagu Bay.

The regatta is one of five major junior events held each year in the Bahamas and attracts sailors from a number of our government schools, Lyford Cay Sailing Club, Royal Nassau Sailing Club, Nassau Yacht Club, Harbour Island Sailing Club and Abaco. Classes sailed were Optimist Dinghies (ages eight to 15) Championship and Green (beginner) fleets, Laser Radials and Sunfish.

With 51 participants in all, results showed just how competitive our young sailors are in the region.

The Bahamas Youth Olympic Regatta is sponsored by the Bahamas Olympic Committee.

This is the first of four regattas which will serve as qualifiers for our Optimist Dinghy sailors to make Team Bahamas and represent the Bahamas at two upcoming international events - Optimist Worlds in Riva, Del Garda, Italy in July and Optimist North American Championships, in Cancun, Mexico in October.

Sailing conditions for the two-day, seven-race series varied with the first day being very light and tricky winds and the second day being near perfect 10 to 12 knot breeze out of the east.

The top three finishers for each fleet were:

Optimist Gold

(Advanced) Fleet

1st Place – Patrick Tomlinson – Lyford Cay Sailing Club

2nd Place – Zane Munro – Royal Nassau Sailing Club/Bahamas National Sailing School

3rd Place – Joshua Weech – Nassau Yacht Club/Bahamas National Sailing School

Optimist Silver

(Intermediate) Fleet

1st Place – Petrus Maritz – Royal Nassau Sailing Club

2nd Place – Philipe Souza – Lyford Cay Sailing Club

3rd Place – Brosnan Darville – Ly​ford Cay Sailing Club

Optimist Green Fleet

1st Place - Lorenzo Andollina - Lyford Cay Sailing Club

2nd Place - John Alexiou – Lyford Cay Sailing Club

3rd Place – Erik Jensen – Lyford Cay Sailing Club

Laser Radial

1st Place – Morgan Grammatico – Nassau Yacht Club/Bahamas National Sailing School

2nd Place – Enrique Wells – Bahamas National Sailing School

3rd Place – Delaney Goodfellow – Lyford Cay Sailing Club

Sunfish

1st Place – Noah Simmons – Harbour Island Sailing Club

2nd Place – Maryetta Johnson – Bahamas National Sailing School

3rd Place – Malano Moxey – Bahamas National Sailing School

Trophies were presented by Dorian Roach, vice president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, Lori Lowe, president of The Bahamas Sailing Association and Robert Dunkley, director/coach of the Bahamas National Sailing School.

“We spoke with a few of the sailors to get their view on this weekend’s regatta,” the organisers said. “Patrick Tomlinson, a nine-year-old sailing with the Lyford Cay Sailing Club, has been sailing for the past year and-a-half.

Patrick said that in preparation for this regatta, he worked on his boat speed and the light winds helped him to be able to beat out his sailing mates. He feels great about winning and loves sailing.

“Zane Munro who placed second said that he has been sailing for about a year and-a-half and he gained a lot of experience during the recent Optimist North American Championships, which were held in New Providence September 27 to October 4, 2019. He also feels that the light winds worked in his favour this weekend and is excited about his 2nd place.

Of particular note is that the junior sailing programme in the Bahamas is now made up of approximately 30 per cent girls, who are enjoying the sport and doing very well.

Morgan Grammatico, who presently sails in the Laser Radial fleet, won in her fleet this weekend. Morgan has been sailing for the past five years and says that sailing has given her many opportunities.

She said sailing gives her something to be passionate about and something to be proud of. She credits practicing and planning her races beforehand and looked to the winds and tides so she could use them to her advantage.

Maryetta Johnson presently sails in the Sunfish fleet and is benefitting from the programme through the government school initiative, which affords students from public schools, who can swim, to participate in the junior sailing programme.

Maryetta is also a certified coach, having successfully sailed in all of the fleets, and is doing very well in the sport of sailing.

A special thank you to the Bahamas Olympic Association for sponsoring this annual event and to Nassau Yacht Club with Bahamas National Sailing School for organising it.