Virgin Islands' sailor, Ryan Lettsome gained some valuable experience at the 2016 Seaboard Optimist North American Championships a week ago. Photo: Provided.

144 sailors from 20 countries competed at the 2016 Seaboard Optimist North American Championships in Antigua, with Rayne Duff, Nathan Haycraft, Kyle Roose and Ryan Lettsome representing the VI. Photo: Provided

144 sailors from 20 countries were competing with Rayne Duff, Nathan Haycraft, Kyle Roose and Ryan Lettsome representing the VI.

Racing got underway on Monday July 11, 2016 in English Harbour with the Team Racing Competition taking place on Thursday July 14, 2016. Conditions were varied but generally lighter winds than expected combined with big seas made for some challenging racing.

Duff narrowly misses out

Finishing just outside the top 10 in eleventh was Rayne Duff. Sailing a consistent series, Duff started the final day in 9th position but a 26th place in the final race pushed him just out of the top spots by three points.

The only sailor to post a first place result during the week was Nathan Haycraft, which he backed up with three other top 4 finishes. Unfortunately, a starting penalty in the penultimate race saw Haycraft's hopes for a top ten finish slip away and he ended the regatta in 18th position.

After an exceptional result in the practice race session, Kyle Roose was not able to find his top form and suffered heavily from three starting penalties of which he could only discard one.

Competing for the first time at this level of competition, Lettsome was the second youngest competitor at the event and clocked up some great big fleet racing experience.

In the Team Racing competition, all four sailors raced together for the national title. A first flight defeat to Canada was followed up by victory against the USA before the team were eventually dispatched by Bermuda.

Overall Results
11th Rayne Duff
18th Nathan Haycraft
129th Ryan Lettsome
132nd Kyle Roose

Elsewhere, Optimist race team member Max Reshetiloff returned from racing at the Sandy MacVickar Junior Regatta in Annapolis, USA earlier this month.

Reshetiloff represented the VI and was the only non-American competitor in the 77-boat fleet.

Conditions were light throughout with the race committee only able to get five races away. With a best finish of 8th place, Reshtiloff finished in twelfth place in the red fleet and 23rd overall.