October 5th and 6th 2012.
Harbour Island Sailing Club hosted what we understand
was the biggest regatta ever to be held in the Bahamas – The Bahamas Optimist
Nationals 2012 - on Friday and Saturday, 5th and 6th
October. Sailing clubs from New
Providence, Grand Bahama, Long Island, Abaco, Governor’s Harbour, Cayman
Islands travelled to Harbour Island to join our own Harbour Island club members
for this junior sailing event. In all 89 sailors, 8 to 15 years
of age attended and completed 7 very competitive races over the two days. The fleet is split into the Green Fleet for
less experienced sailors and the Championship Fleet for the more advanced.
Championship Fleet Results and Highlights
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Action at the leeward mark in race #7
-Robert Dunkley |
41 sailors raced in the Championship Fleet,
this fleet is split into the White Fleet (10 years old and under), the Blue
Fleet (11 and 12 year olds) and the Red Fleet (13, 14 and 15 year olds) with
trophies given out in each fleet to first, second, third place and the top girl
in each fleet. The Championship Fleet is
then awarded overall trophies across all fleets.
· 12 year old Spencer
Cartwright of the Nassau Yacht Club retained his title and the Geoffrey
Holowesko floating trophy as Overall Championship Fleet First Place.
·
11 year old Melisha Higgins
of the Harbour Island Sailing, daughter of the Harbour Island Sailing Club’s
Commodore won Top Girl Overall in the Championship Fleet, placing 6th
– a particular highlight for our club!
 |
Tristan Eldon (#11) just edging out
Paul de Souza (#197) at the finish line to take second place in race #5
-Robert Dunkley
|
·
10 year old Tristan Eldon
also of the Nassau Yacht Club won his Fleet Division and came 4th
overall – an amazing achievement for such a young sailor.
·
Sailors from the Mack Knowles
Junior Sailing Club, Long Island and the Abaco Junior Sailing Association also
placed well and received many awards for their clubs.
Green Fleet Results and Highlights
48
sailors took part in the Green Fleet.
This fleet is for less experienced sailors who are sailing in the
Nationals for the first time. These
races encourage the kids to participate in a Regatta without too much pressure
to achieve fantastic results and are coached around the course.
We are delighted with our achievement in
running what was a hugely successful Regatta enjoyed by all with the Harbour
Island community pulling together to ensure that all the sailors and their
families had a great time.
It would not have been possible without the
kind support of our sponsors, Bahamas Ferries, Pink Sands, Coral Sands, Sip
Sip, RBC, Rock House, Paul King of King & Co, Johnson’s Rentals and Coca
Cola. We also had fantastic donations
from our many friends here on Harbour Island to whom we are extremely grateful.
-Rosemary Clarke
For further information:
Rosemary Clarke, Club Secretary 242 359 7475 or
royaltermite@me.com.
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Spencer Cartwright completing his tack at the finish line to win the Bahamas Optimist National Championship 2012 and retain his title as National Champion.
-Robert Dunkley
|
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