Ten Virgin Islands’ sailors raced in the MLK Regatta in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands over the weekend of January 9-10, 2016, with two days of light, shifty and unpredictable wind. It was a strong, sportsman-like performance from all of the sailors with the newest addition to the race team showing that he will be one to watch for the future. Photo: Provided

In total, the VI had five racers in the Opti Championship fleet, four racers in the Opti Green fleet, and one in the club 420 fleet. Photo: Provided

Sam Morrell, competing in the Club 420 fleet, sailed nine races and won one on the second day. Most results from Morrell and his crew placed him at the top of the fleet, easing into a first place victory overall.

Rayne Duff, competing in the Championship Fleet, sailed a total of 10 races with results ranging from first to mid-fleet. Duff placed first in his age group and second overall, just three points behind his St Thomas rival Mia Nicolosi. Unfortunately on the second day the black flag was raised on the Championship fleet, weighing Duff with points he could not drop.

Other results

There were highlights from all the sailors in the Championship fleet throughout the two days and two more Team BVI sailors finished in the top 10. Nathan Haycraft scored two third place finishes after the wind picked up on the second day and finished consistently in the top ten to finish in 8th overall.  

Right behind him in 9th overall was Kyle Roose, who saved his best for last, roping in two second place finishes and sticking with the top of the fleet on the final day.

Max Reshetiloff tucked a 5th place under his belt on the first day after catching a shift that helped lift him to the windward mark well in front of the pack. Reshetiloff finished in 15 position overall.

Ryan Lettsome weaved his way into a 7th place in one of the races after a tough morning of unpredictable winds. Unfortunately, Lettsome succumbed to the black flag in race 8 which, combined with two OCS scores on day one, put him out of the running and in 18th place overall.

4^th for debutant sailor Allen

Four sailors competed in the Optimist Green fleet and all of them sailed well throughout the regatta. Top finisher, at his debut regatta off island, was Samuel Allen coming in fourth overall. Allen not only mastered the challenges of the light and shifty conditions on the first day, he went on to secure first, second and third place finishes on the second day.

Finishing in eighth place overall, Noah George also bucked the trend on the first day by securing two fourth place finishes, a great result for another of the newest racers. Scott Kirk roped in a sixth place in race nine and sailed with confidence during both days to finish 15th overall. Connor Maccallum also sailed well at his first outing since October, getting a ninth as his best score and 16th overall. 

In total, the VI had five racers in the Opti Championship fleet, four racers in the Opti Green fleet, and one in the club 420 fleet.

The next regatta for Team BVI is the Puerto Rico International Dinghy Regatta in San Juan from February 4-7, 2016.