The Tribune

TWELVE-year-old Finley McKinney-Lambert was awarded the title of overall winner this weekend at this year’s prestigious Cecil G Cooke Memorial Junior Regatta October 22-23.

Hosted at The Nassau Yacht Club, this annual event has become one of the most popular multi-class junior championships in the country.

Sailing since he was just four years old, McKinney- Lambert sails with The Eleuthera Sailing Academy and has a string of world class accomplishments under his belt, despite his young age.

He has represented The Bahamas numerous times in the international arena, including twice at The Optimist World Championships (Italy 2021 and Turkey 2022), the Optimist South American Championships (Mexico 2021) and the Optimist North American Championships (Nassau 2019). He was also the 2021 Bahamian National Optimist Champion.

This annual regatta, now in its 9th year, was initiated in 2014 by Sandra Cooke to honour her father, one of The Bahamas greatest sailors who competed with Sir Durward Knowles in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics winning the first ever gold medal for The Bahamas.

Sailing conditions were great this weekend as the fleets of Optimists, Sunfish and Laser sailboats took to the waters of Montagu Bay.

The 58 competing sailors ranged in age from six to 16 years old, with the Optimists being the largest group.

The top three finishers in each fleet received trophies and the winner of the Optimists is also awarded the Cecil G Cooke perpetual trophy.

Placing second in the Optimist championship fleet was Patrick Tomlinson, current national champion (Lyford Cay Sailing) and in third was Craig Ferguson, who sails with The Bahamas National Sailing School/ Nassau Yacht Club.

The Green fleet of Optimists, which comprises sailor’s with less than a year’s experience, was won by Rico Major (Bahamas National Sailing School/ Nassau Yacht Club) with Sophia Briard (Royal Nassau Sailing Club) in second and Diego Gago (Lyford Cay Sailing) in third.

The small Sunfish fleet was won by Johannes Maritz (Royal Nassau Sailing Club), second was Alejandro Rosete (Bahamas National Sailing School/Nassau Yacht Club) and third was Sy-Ann McPhee and Alyssa Knowles also of the Bahamas National Sailing School.

In the Laser class, Joshua Weech was victorious in first placed with Zachary Knowles in second (both of Bahamas National Sailing School/Nassau Yacht Club) and Katie Kelly (Royal Nassau Sailing Club) in third.

Appreciation goes to The Nassau Yacht Club for its ongoing hospitality and to all the volunteering parents and friends who assisted with race committee.

Thanks also goes to the event sponsors, Insurance Management, Darville Packaging and Pioneer Brite.

The next major event on the junior sailing calendar is The Optimist North American Championship which will be hosted at The Nassau Yacht Club November 13- 20.

This large international event will be attended by almost 160 sailors from over 20 countries and bring huge media attention to this rapidly growing and much-loved sport.