Tuesday 2 October 2012

Pre Event: Bahamas Open Optimist National Championships 2012


It is all happening in just three days time. 
Harbour Island will play host to the largest sailing regatta that The Bahamas has ever seen.

Over 90 boats (Optimist dinghies) will be participating in this premier junior event  geared towards sailors ages 8 to 15. 
Competitors will be coming from Grand Bahama, Nassau, Long Island, Governor's Harbour, Abaco and the Cayman Islands. Currently, the plan is for Seven races to be sailed for the series during over the course of Friday and Saturday. The sailors will be racing on two different courses located on the harbour side of beautiful HI; one for Championship Fleet of around 45 boats and the other for the beginner Green Fleet of 45 or more boats.


Our top junior sailors, like Paul de Souza (Current Jr. Sunfish and Jr. Laser National Champion) and Spencer Cartwright (Optimist Nationals 2011 champion), will be racing in the Championship Fleet and I am sure they will be challenged by some of the younger sailors who are now starting to sail very competitively. 
Unfortunately, our third premier young sailor, Alande (AJ) Forbes, who is one of our top international sailors that attended this year's Optimist World Championship event in Dominica Republic (along with Spencer and Paul) will not be competing due to an injury. He will certainly be missed.

The Green Fleeters, as this is their first real regatta will be coached around the course by our BSA Instructor, Donico Brown. This is a tradition we have developed over the years, and this idea works extremely well in getting the kids to learn more about racing.

If you will be in Harbor Island, come on down to the harbour side and watch our young sailors in action.

This regatta would not be possible without the help of our Sponsors. With this in mind we would like to thank Bahamas Fast Ferries, Bahamas Hot Mix, Cable Cares (Cable Bahamas), Palm Cay, Coca Cola, KPMG, Rotary International, East Nassau Rotary, and Royal Bank of Canada along with many individuals for all your support not only for this event; but for all you do for us in our year round sailing program.  

-Coach Robert Dunkley

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