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USVI

Rathbun Makes Semis Thanks to 16 Year Old Chris Brockbank on Bow at the Carlos Aguilar Match Race
By Lynn Fitzpatrick of World Regattas
Dec 5, 2009, 15:58 PST
Photography by Lynn Fitzpatrick of World Regattas

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Colin Rathbun's Team (IVB) - Nick Cunha, Chris Watters, Colin Rathbun and Chris Brockbank.
As one of the youngest sailors at the 2nd Annual Carlos Aguilar Match Race, 16-year old Christopher Brockback is is doing the hardest job as well as any other sailor on the pointy end of the IC 24's. He is sailing with Colin Rathbun, Chris Watters and Nick Cunha and their team from the BVI's made it to the Semi-Finals.

"With 44 events on our annual calendar, we are always looking for crew and trying to recruit more juniors. We have a weight rule in the IC 24 Class, so we either sail with four big people or five smaller ones," said Colin Rathbun. Rathbun, the skipper, is also the IC 24 Class president.

Rathbun took Brockbank for a sail about a year ago. Since then, the high school junior has sailed several regattas with Rathbun and others from the BVI. This week he's match racing with the big boys. "I'm learning a lot. I'm traveling and it's fun." Brockbank certainly isn't wearing a lampshade at the landside events. Rathbun and Brockbank concurred, "It's been a learning experience on many levels."

Brockbank's work on the foredeck during the final four flights of Round Robin 2 made all the difference in the British Virgin Islands' team moving into the Semi-Final Round. He grabbed the clue of the spinnaker and hauled it in while Dave Perry and his team struggled with their take down. Rathbun and Brockbank's team ended the Round Robins tied on points with Perry and won on a tie-breaker, all due to that race.

When they came ashore to prepare for the Semi-Finals, Rathbun spoke for the elated team, "We came out and wanted to beat some of the pros and we did it. It's awesome. It's not every day that you get to do that!"

Rathbun commented on his team's amazing string of victories during the Friday and Saturday Round Robin flights, "We were a lot more organized, our crew work is better and we’ve learned a lot." Later he said, "We were ready for that take down. The other team gave us just enough room to get around their stern and we did it.Chris got the kite down and it was enough take the lead."

Round Robin Scores from the 2nd Annual Carlos Aguilar Regatta

Canfield (ISV) - 12

Holmberg (ISV) - 11.5

Gram-Hansen (DEN) - 10

Rathbun (IVB) - 8

Perry (USA) -8

Haycraft (IVB) - 3

Bus (AHO) - 3

Escobar (ESA) - 0

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