By RBVIYC
Team BVI (L-R) Rayne Duff, Nathan Haycraft and Ryan Lettsome. Photo: Provided
Rayne Duff once again stood on the podium in Miami, claiming the red fleet victory and third overall at the 2016 Sunshine State Championships held in Miami from 12-13 March.
Three Team BVI Sailors traveled to Miami for the regatta, Duff, Nathan Haycraft (blue fleet) and Ryan Lettsome (white fleet).
A fleet of 195 boas descended on the Key Biscayne Yacht Club and the competition was fierce. Entries, whilst dominated by the USA, also included sailors from the BVI, USVI, St Lucia and Canada.
In the White fleet, Ryan Lettsome sailed a solid regatta to finish in ninth place, an excellent achievement at his first major regatta out of the region. A black flag in Race 3 for crossing the start line early sets the theme for the weekend for the Team BVI sailors but fortunately was one Lettsome was able to discard.
Nathan Haycraft had a challenging weekend with three starting penalties that cost him dearly in the overall results. Only able to discard one score, Haycraft was forced to count an additional 145 points to an otherwise consistent series of race scores.
The red fleet, for sailors aged 13 to 15 went down to the wire for Rayne Duff who also fell victim to the black flag but, finishing on a high, he pulled out a bullet in the final race to secure his position and third overall.
Team BVI congratulate Mia Nicolosi from St Thomas who took the overall victory, securing five bullets from the seven race series.
Team BVI Results
Position – Skipper
3 – Rayne Duff (1st Red fleet)
57 – Nathan Haycraft (30th Blue fleet)
111 – Ryan Lettsome (9th white fleet)
