Top Three Finishes In St Croix for Team BVI Optimist Sailors

By Royal BVI Yacht Club

L to R:  Ryan Lettsome, Samuel Allen, Kael Chalwell, Nathan Haycraft, Antonio Cisneros, Kyle Roose and front Wil Seddon Photo: RBVIYC / Taylor Penwell

L to R: Ryan Lettsome, Samuel Allen, Kael Chalwell, Nathan Haycraft, Antonio Cisneros, Kyle Roose and front Wil Seddon
Photo: RBVIYC / Taylor Penwell

Seven Team BVI Optimist sailors from the Royal BVI Yacht Club traveled this weekend to compete in the 2017 Crucian Open at the St Croix Yacht Club.  Nathan Haycraft, Samuel Allen and Kael Chalwell all came home with trophies in their respective divisions.

Racing outside the reef at Teague Bay, the two day event saw light winds from 8-10 knots on Saturday, increasing slightly on Sunday to 10-12 knots.

27 sailors competed in the Championship Fleet. Nathan Haycraft picked himself up after a mixed first day to post top three finishes in the last three races and climb to third overall, albeit tied on points with second place finisher Caroline Sibilly from St Thomas. Haycraft also claimed second place in the Blue Fleet (age 11 & 12).

Next up was Kyle Roose in 18th place and steady mid-teen finishes to take 10th in the Red Fleet (age 13 to 15).  Our newest Championship Fleet sailor, Samuel Allen sailed consistently through the weekend with a fantastic sixth place finish in race three to finish third in the White fleet (age 10 and under) and 21st overall.

Ryan Lettsome came in 26th overall after finding himself with an OCS and then a black flag he had to count in the overall score. Starting technique is one of the most crucial elements of race strategy and perfecting the moment of hitting the start line just as the gun goes is one that all sailors work hard to achieve so it’s only natural to get it wrong a few times along the way.

In the Green Fleet, Kael Chalwell faced stiff competition from local St Croix YC sailor, Moorehead and it ultimately came down to the very last race.  Tied on points, the two sailors went head to head for the overall win but Moorehead just clinched it finishing the race second to Chalwell’s third.

Antonio Cisneros, at only his second overseas regatta raced an excellent series with his best result of 4th in race eight and an overall finish position of 8th.  Wil Seddon, the youngest team member finished in 14th.

The St Croix Yacht Club once again put on an excellent weekend of racing and friendship, they even managed to organize on water entertainment from some curious dolphins or maybe they had come along to watch the racing … who knows!

The RBVIYC thanks the Moorings for their support, Chris, Coach Taylor, all the parents who helped with meals, loading and unloading and everyone at St Croix Yacht Club.

Results
Optimist Championship fleet (27)
3. Nathan Haycraft (2nd Blue fleet)
18. Kyle Roose (10 red fleet)
21. Samuel Allen (3rd White fleet)
26. Ryan Lettsome (6th White fleet)

Optimist Green fleet (22)
2. Kael Chalwell
8. Antonio Cisneros
14. Wil Seddon

Click for full results

Team BVI cruz onto the podium in St Croix

By RBVIYC

BVI Optimist sailors at the 2016 St Croix Yacht Club Crucian Open. Photo: RBVIYC

BVI Optimist sailors at the 2016 St Croix Yacht Club Crucian Open. Photo: RBVIYC

7 Optimist sailors from the Royal BVI Yacht Club traveled to St Croix April 16 -17 to compete in the 2016 St Croix Yacht Club Crucian Open with all 4 of the Championship fleet sailors reaching the podium in their divisions.

The regatta hosted 72 competitors racing in the 420, Sunfish and Optimist classes on Saturday and Sunday.

Unpredictable 2-7 knot southerly winds brought light and shifty conditions that challenged the competitor’s patience but all of the RBVIYC racers finished well in their respective fleets.

In the 24 boat Championship fleet, Ryan Lettsome finished 21st overall, winning third place in the Under 10, White fleet.

In the Blue fleet for the 11-12 age group, Nathan Haycraft took second place and seventh overall, with Kyle Roose placing third in group and twelfth overall.

Rayne Duff held the lead after the first day of racing with 3, first place finishes under his belt and never finishing outside the top three. A less successful day two saw him drop to second overall but retaining the Red fleet honours in the 13-15 age group.

Samuel Allen was top of the pack for the BVI Green fleeters, finishing fifth overall. A consistent weekend for Allen included 2 second place finishes and just one result outside the top 10. Noah George made a blistering start to his regatta with third place in the first two races of the weekend. Not quite able to maintain that level, he continued to finish inside the top half of the fleet throughout and ended his regatta in eighth overall.

A solid first day for Nici Haycraft saw him take the race win in race 7 but, sitting out Sunday, he slid to 15 overall.

A great weekend for the RBVIYC junior sailing programme and congratulations to the team on another excellent regatta.

Results
Blue Fleet
2 Nathan Haycraft (7 overall)
3 Kyle Roose (12 overall)

Red Fleet
1 Rayne Duff (2 overall)

White Fleet
3 Ryan Lettsome (21 overall)

Green Fleet
5 Samuel Allen
8 Noah George
15 Nici Haycraft

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