SIMPSON BAY –Sailors shook off the cobwebs as they took to the water for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown to compete in the St. Maarten Yacht Club dinghy race. A total of 19 teams sailed in several classes.
Caii Banting screamed down the race course with a smile on his face taking 3 bullets in the Optimist class.
Chris de Wilde, Dax Henriquez and Adriaan Coppelmans had their own battle on the racecourse, taking turns at who came in second place. At the end of the day Chris de Wilde claimed second and Dax Henriquez third place with Adriaan Coppelmans only 1 point behind.
Sailors were facing very windy conditions, but overall, it was the fun of being back sailing that dominated on the racecourse.
The boys dominated the Opti fleet. The girls represented the Pico fleet. Skylar Peterson and Melina de Vries enjoyed a friendly competition, with Skylar winning the final race putting her in first place.
The RS Quest class became its own Family Feud, with Summer Jean Morton sailing with her mother Janet Robertson, Mathijs Detering with his father Frank Deteringand Arthur Banting with his girlfriend Caoimhe. Once Summer and Janet warmed up after the first race they won the next three races. Arthur and Caoimhe sailed very consistent, but Mathijs and Frank managed to get them on the final race.
The Lasers were very well represented with a fleet of six. Emma Lennox finished in first place. Han de Bruyn Kops was second and Alec Scarabelli was third.
Ian Martin, Garth Steyn, Robbie Ferron and Iain Mobbs raced in the Jenneau 20s class.
After the first race Ian Martin became unstoppable and took 3 bullets home, resulting in first place overall. Steyn sailed very consistent and came in second except for the last race when Ferron swept in for second place. Ferron finished third just one point behind.
The first keelboat race is set for June 21.
