Event instructor Nick Stephens with all participating sailors from Grenada and Carriacou.

Eighteen young sailors from Grenada and Carriacou demonstrated their talent in the first Optimist Dinghy Regatta to be staged as part of the recent Carriacou Regatta Anniversary celebration of 40 years of sailing. The three day event, organised by the Grenada Sailing Association, included expert tactical training and practical advice from two qualified instructors, Nick Stephens and Randy Manwarring. There was also a full schedule of competitive racing with the ScotiaBank Race Day on Sunday, July 31, followed by the Hubbard’s Race Series on Monday, August 1. As an added bonus, each race day ended with a fun relay, involving not only the young racers, but parents and helpers as well.

Although the young sailors had varying degrees of experience, all benefited from the training, which showed up in some very exciting and closely fought racing, particularly in the ScotiaBank Race Day, where there were points ties for both second and third places. Renaldo Noel from Windward shared third place with Mavrick Cudjoe of Harvey Vale, while Shakeem Noel of Woburn matched points with Ronell Allan of Windward for second behind Kenzo Szyjan of Grenada Yacht Club in first place. The end of day relay race was won by Carriacou’s Reynold ‘Ren’ Haemer, Ronell Allan and Mavrick Cudjoe, joined by Woburn’s Clinton Brathwaite.

Randy Manwarring gives important practical tips to a group of keen young sailors in one of the events training sessions.

Hubbard’s Race Series on Monday was also closely fought, with the teams enjoying some excellent breezes and race conditions after some difficult squalls on the previous day. David Murray of Grenada Yacht Club took fourth place, with Woburn boys Shakeem Noel and Clinton Brathwaite coming through to take second and third respectively. But again it was Kenzo Szyjan who proved unbeatable for a second day. The final Relay race of the Regatta was taken by David Murray, Kenzo Szyjan and Clinton Brathwaite from Grenada, with team-mate Renaldo Noel from Carriacou.

Over the three days the teams healthy appetites were satisfied with refreshments kindly donated by sponsors Coca Cola; Bryden & Minors and CK’s Super Valu/Independence Agencies and the event was rounded off in true Regatta style with a Presentation Dinner sponsored by Spice Island Marine Services. Here the winning sailors received trophies and medals, as well as a great selection of sponsored prizes: Coca Cola Football Game Sets; a lifejacket, snorkel set and torches from Budget Marine; complimentary cinema tickets from Triple Reels Cineplex; Sugar & Spice ice cream vouchers, and marine wallets from Turbulence Grenada. No one went home empty handed, with all participating sailors receiving specially designed T-shirts courtesy of Budget Marine, Deco Industries and Fidel of Carriacou.

The event is part of the Optimist Youth Sailing Program run by the Grenada Sailing Association as part of its ongoing commitment to the development of all aspects of sailing in Grenada and its sister islands. This initiative is particularly geared to creating an interest in sailing, developing the natural talents of our young sailors and providing access to professional training and international standard equipment to all our sailing communities.

GSA President Jacqui Pascall commented: “ The Regatta was a tremendous success. It was the first time that we have had a fleet of 15 Optimists together, with sailors from Grenada and Carriacou competing in full race conditions and it has given us a great opportunity to scout young talent for the future. We plan to make this part of an annual schedule of events, with the long term goal of sending young sailors to take part in Caribbean Region and International Optimist Regattas, with the ultimate goal to have a representative sailing in the 2012 Olympics in London. Thank you once again to all sponsors, volunteers and parents, and of course to a team of great young sailors for helping to make this happen. The future is looking very bright.”

Participating Teams – Grenada: Clinton Brathwaite, Vaughn Bruno & Shakeem Noel (Woburn); Nick Goodchild, Lily Morejohn, David Murray and Kenzo Szyjan (Grenada Yacht Club).
Windward, Carriacou: Ronell Allan, Reynold ‘Ren’ Haemer, Justin McQuilkin, Renaldo Noel.
Harvey Vale, Carriacou: Alvis Cudjoe, Mavrick Cudjoe, Mike Kurban, Donel Leproust, Ryan Mohan and Joshua Tuson.

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