24 Young Sailors took part in the Royal BVI Yacht Club’s (RBVIYC) Annual Back to School Regatta staged just off Nanny Cay on Saturday September 7, 2013. Photo: Provided

Staged in the Sir Francis Drake Channel and featuring competitors from the USVI as well as those from the territory, 12 races were completed and the event was highly successful, according to RBVIYC Director of Sailing Development, Mr Brian Duff.

“This is a warm up event for the coming season,” he commented “and the goal of this regatta is to build friendships and enthusiasm.”

Teddy Nicolosi and Christopher Sharpless, both from the USVI, took first and second in the Red Fleet Racing. The VI’S James Dawson came third.

Nicolosi took first place with two first-place finishes and six second-place finishes.

Thad Lettsome outclassed his opposition and took first place with 8 bullets in the Blue Fleet to finish ahead of Jack Finley (USVI) and Victoria Flately.

Up and coming local Sailor Rayne Duff was the top performer in the White Fleet, beating Mateo di Blasi into second and Mia Nicolosi into third.

The Green Fleet was led by Nathan Haycraft who had six bullets, while Kyle Roose took second place with five first-place finishes. Max Reshetiloff of the US came in third.

Duff has also announced that, along with the return of Omari Scott, the RBVIYC will be soon welcoming Lauren Lawson- a qualified Royal Yacht Association Dinghy and Keelboat Instructor. “With the addition of Lawson, we will soon be able to offer three tiers of sailing classes for a more clear development of athletes from beginner to intermediate to racer.”

Scott summered in the USA, got engaged, hopefully saw some of the AC72 racing at the Louis Vuitton Cup in San Francisco and now returns to spearhead the Youth Sailing Programme.

Lawson will be helping to offer a greater diversity of classes to keep the age, skill and class groups together for better learning.

The next youth event is the Columbus Day Regatta in St. Thomas, USVI on October 12-13, 2013.