The 6th Annual Anguilla Youth Dinghy Regatta took place on Saturday January 18. forty-four young sailors from Anguilla, St Maarten, St Barths and Puerto Rico competed in four separate classes:–Gold Optimist and Silver Optimist, both for 15 years and under, and Club 420 and Laser, for young persons under 18 years. There were 16 sailors from Anguilla, 13 from St Maarten, 11 from St Barths and 4 from Puerto Rico.
Anguilla did particularly well in the 420 Class with Jimmy Jalle and Rigo Richardson taking first place, and Shemorie Richardson and Lavasco Connor in second place. In the Optimist Silver Class Mathias Pemberton was first. They each received a trophy.
Winners in the Optimist Gold Class were Lilian Halbertsma and Luke Bacon from St Maarten, and in the Optimist Silver Class Mathias Pemberton from Anguilla and Mathieu Larregain from St Maarten. In the Laser Class the winners were Rhone Findlay and Bart van Viet.
The award for Sportsmanship was won by Christopher Durkah who persevered and kept trying in all his races. The awards were presented by Sailing Director in Anguilla, Eli Bear.
The Anguilla Youth Sailing Club (AYSC) and the Anguilla Sailing Association (ASA) organised the event. Board member Fred Potter thanked the businesses and individuals that provided sponsorship. The main sponsors were Anguilla Aluminum and Sol Petroleum.
Each competitor received a backpack containing school supplies, a T shirt and other items. They also received a framed photograph of themselves taken, during the racing, by Jos Lampe.
