Five junior and youth classes, 37 sailors from 6 to 20 years, sat off from the BVI Watersports Centre docks in Sea Cows Bay to participate in the DYAS Annual Xmas Regatta. Photo supplied by BVIWSC

Five junior and youth classes, 37 sailors from 6 to 20 years, sat off from the BVI Watersports Centre docks in Sea Cows Bay to the enclosed race area where they were instructed to sail first to the big yellow buoy regardless of the wind direction!

Fifteen races were completed in swirling wind conditions.

Prize giving was held in the presence of all the families and competitors. The audience was told about a Special Perpetual Award that is given annually by the BVIWSC to a young person that notably contributes their time and energy back into the sport of sailing at the Centre.

The trophy is named in memory of Mr. Guy Eldridge and this year was awarded to Elsa Meyers who although studying at university in Wales, gave up three weeks of her busy schedule to race with, coach and mentor, the Special Olympics BVI sailing team that performed so well in Athens in June.

Visiting District Governor of Rotary 7020, Mr. Guy Theodore, awarded the trophies designed once again by Green VI. The infamous ‘Blood Bath’ as is traditional, was last to be announced and as it is a handicapped race, no one knew the outcome. This year it was a talented Optimist sailor that beat the faster Lasers and Picos and took victory earning a place on the seven-year-old trophy.

Results:
Baby Greens Optimist Green Optimist Silver
1 Greg McConnell/Jodie Wiliams Kyle Roose Sam Morell
2 Isar Kerkulier Nicole Munro Rayne Duff
3 Thomas Hare Prince David Archer Thad Lettsome
4 Isaac Sutherland-Pilch Erin Williams James Rasic Knight
5 Dominic Munro James Dawson
6 Alex Richards Natalie Fay
7 Luca Reich
8 George Dawson
9 Sydney Null

Laser Pico
1 Matthew Oliver Abayomi Maddox
2 Daniel Petrovic Joseph/Giovanni Wells
3 Delroy Gordon Jahmoi Albert
4 Jaye Noel Darje Stewart
5 Lenford Pope Mareq Romney
6 Glenford Gordon Akeem David

The Blood Bath Race

1 Sam Morell Optimist
2 Thad Lettsome Optimist
3 Abayomi Maddox Pico
4 Danny Petrovic Laser Radial
5 Jaye Noel Laser Radial
6 Glenford Gordon Laser Radial
7 Mathew Oliver Laser 4.7
8 Jahmoi Albert Pico
9 Delroy Gordon Laser Radial
10 Rayne Duff Optimist
11 Natalie Fay Optimist
12 James Rasic Knight Optimist
13 Darji Stewart Pico
14 Lenford Pope Laser Radial
15 Mareq Romney Pico
16 Joseph Wells Pico
17 Prince David Archer Optimist