Anguilla’s Junior Racing Team took part in the 11th Annual Sol Optimist Championship 2015 that took place in St. Maarten over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of November. The 5 member team from The Anguilla Youth Sailing Club included first timers Joden Harrigan, Ahmad Halley and Yahance Benjamin and the more experienced Peter Webster Wiggin along with coach Anette Hibbert. Sponsored by Sol St. Maarten, the completion featured both male and female sailors ages 8 to 15 sailing in the one-design Optimist dinghies. All of the Anguillians competed in the Orange Fleet which consisted of twelve sailors aged 12 years or under.
There were two days of sailing with 7 races on Saturday and 3 on Sunday and the young sailors were truly tested in conditions that were at times frightening with 7 foot waves and winds reaching 20 knots but they remained resolute and they stuck to their task to finish the regatta with a feeling of a job well done. In the end, it was experience that was the biggest factor and Peter Webster Wiggin ended up taking second place in a hard fought battle with Mateo Guy and Elio Boutin both of St. Barth’s who would eventually take first and third respectively. Peter ended with 2 firsts to his name of which he can be justifiably proud. The other members of the team placed 7th, 9th and 11th which reflected more their youth than a lack of ability and they returned home with a renewed determination to sharpen their skills for the next regatta scheduled to take place in January in Anguilla where the local conditions are sure to give them more encouragement.
The Regatta also saw 22 sailors compete in the older Blue Class and it was the very talented Darius Berenos from Curacao who proved dominant with 6 firsts and 3 seconds to his name. Nathan Haycraft from the British Virgin islands was second and followed by Bas van der Gulik from Curacao. The Anguilla Youth sailing Club would like to thank all its sponsors and volunteers who make the sailing programme possible and especially Mrs. Palmovan Webster for helping with the travelling costs for the team.
