TT junior sailors impress in BVI

FOR the first time in its five-year history, St Thomas beat St Croix at the Chief Minister’s Trophy sailing regatta at Nanny Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. St Croix had won the first four editions of the race up to last year, but St Thomas halted their smooth run, beating them into second in this year’s  staging of the regatta, with Anguilla in third and Trinidad and Tobago fourth. The two-day regatta featured teams from Trinidad and Tobago, Anguilla, Antigua, Bequia, St Croix, St Thomas, St John, St Lucia, Tortola and Virgin Gorda, competing in J-24 keelboats in the Rotary Club of Tortola and Tortola “Kids of the Sea” programme.

With only five keel boats available the 10 teams had to rotate use of the boats and participate in  20-25 minute races along a sausage shaped course in 12-18 knots winds. Teams had to be accompanied by an older, experienced sailor to ensure proper safety precautions but who was not allowed to participate in any way. With the use of only one J-24 and a solitary practice race before their departure for Tortola, coach Simon Farrington was full of praise for his charges Michael Awai, Phillip De Gannes (skipper), Daniel Stollmeyer, Allan Alkins, Christianne Farah and Diva Ammon. All performed considerably well beside their peers in the competition. Farrington said that his young team showed a keen interest in learning before the races and despite their lack of experience in J-24’s, they showed great initiative and promise for the future.