Rayne Duff representing Team BVI in the Orange Bowl Regatta where he placed 7th overall in his class. Photo: Supplied

Team BVI sailor Thad Lettsome at an earlier Regatta in Italy. Photo: Supplied

On Christmas Day, when most kids were unwrapping gifts, some 700 youth and young persons from across the world headed to the Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami to take part in the annual Orange Bowl Regatta held from 26 to 30 December, 2013. Three of those youth represented the Virgin Islands through The Royal BVI Yacht Club.

The regatta had an impressive fleet of 300 optimist dinghies, 102 Club 420 Sailboats, and just under 200 Laser Sailboats with Radials, 4.7 and Standard sizes, all competing in the Laser classes. Team BVI was only represented in the Optimist Class this year.

In the Optimist Championship division, boasting some 240 racers, local youth sailor Duff quickly overcame a handful of challenging races on the first day to end the regatta with an impressive 23rd position overall that landed him a podium finish of 7th place in Blue fleet (under 13 years). His colleague Thad Lettsome also had fairly strong races and netted 50th position overall and 17th in the Blue fleet placing him comfortably within the first quarter overall as well as in his fleet. Compared to the results when both these sailors competed in the Orange Bowl Regatta 2012, their 2013 performances mark outstanding improvement with Rayne finishing 44 places higher, and Thad, 101 places higher, than in 2012. At this year's Orange Bowl Regatta, another member of Team BVI, Nathan Haycraft, had his very first introduction to championship fleet racing outside of this region and, in the White fleet (for 10 and under), displayed commendable performance to secure a top half position.

The event was bitter sweet for the sailing ambassadors as it also marked the last time that Team BVI was with Coach Omari Scott; who will not be returning as the RBVIYC instructor/coach this year. He was successful in securing a position abroad and closer to his family. Omari had become a household name synonymous with most of Team BVIs recent successes including their first time ever win of Caribbean Dinghy Championships held in November 2013 in Antigua. Scott indicated that he hopes to make it possible to be able to have some short training opportunities with Team BVI sailors during the coming year as he would very much like to be a part of their continued development and is very proud of what they have accomplished so far. All three BVI youth sailors at Orange Bowl Regatta 2013 were recipients of annual awards presented by the Royal BVI Yacht Club in 2013.

This is an open sailing fun class for kids of all ages and skill levels including adults. Adult Sailors are always needed to help share the sport with our new young kids coming in- and the Race kids PLEASE show up to help grow the sport. For questions email youthsailing@royalbviyc.org

The Commodore will also host a race practice from 230-dusk on Saturday January 4, 2014 and as we have all seen on the regatta results, he has plenty to teach the race kids so be there- or be left behind!