By RBVIYC
On the start line at the 2015 BVI Dinghy Championships. Photo: Todd VanSickle
The Royal BVI Yacht Club hosted the BVI Dinghy Championships at Nanny Cay from May 16 – 17 when BVI sailors were joined by sailors from St Croix, St John and St Thomas.
Racing took place on the Sir Francis Drake Channel just off Nanny Cay with 52 dinghies out on the water. The wind was light and shifty making conditions harder for racing than heavy winds and requiring more skill and patience.
The Optimist Championship fleet, Club 420, Laser Radial and Laser Standard raced on the main course.
The second course was marked out for the Optimist Green fleet (Novice racers) which had 24 boats competing in 14 races. It was the largest number of novice sailors the event has had as compared with last year when there were just 6 boats in the Green fleet.
The light winds suited Mia Nicolosi from St Thomas who had 3 bullets coming first in Blue fleet and first overall. This was the first time she had beaten her brother Teddy, and BVI sailor, Rayne Duff. Mia said “it felt good to have beaten them rather than them always beating me.”
Sam Morrell won the Radial Class and Colin Rathbun took the Full Class honours.
The event was sponsored by Hellmann’s, Road Town Wholesale Trading, Nanny Cay and Moorings.
The BVI Dinghy Championships is the third and final event of the VI Triple Crown which includes VIODA in St Thomas, and Cruzan Open in St Croix. The overall winner of the VI Triple Crown was Rayne Duff, BVI. Julian van den Driessche from St Thomas placed second, and Lake Sanford form St Croix placed third.
Results
Optimist White Fleet
1st Nathan Haycraft – BVI
2nd Caroline Sibilly – St Thomas
Optimist Blue Fleet
1st Mia Nicolosi – St Thomas
2nd Rayne Duff – BVI
3rd Mateo Di Blasi – St Thomas
Optimist Red Fleet
1st Teddy Nicolosi – St Thomas
2nd Victoria Flatley – St Thomas
3rd Julian van den Driessche – St Thomas
Optimist Overall Results
1st Mia Nicolosi – St Thomas
2nd Teddy Nicolosi – St Thomas
3rd Rayne Duff – BVI
Club 420
1st Ethan Hanley – St Croix
2nd Sarah Hardee – St Croix
Laser Radial
1st Sam Morrell – BVI
2nd Thad Lettsome – BVI
3rd Jason Putley – BVI
Laser Standard
1st Colin Rathbun – BVI
2nd Mark van den Driessche – BVI
For full results please see Regatta Network
http://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_regatta_results.php?regatta_id=9844
