This past weekend, June 18th and 19th, marked the 27th Annual Heineken Light Caribbean Laser Open Championships which turned into a great weekend of Laser sailing in the finest waters in the Caribbean; the flat waters of Orient Beach.
Top Laser sailors in the region competed in three classes: Master Class, Open Class (Standard), and Radial Class; there is a class for every age and skill level.
Racing over two days using windward-leeward and triangular courses in the sheltered waters of Orient Bay, this was a perfect event for every Laser sailor young or old.
Benoit Meesmaecker successfully defended his title, fending off the talented Rhone Findlay (now a top US collegiate sailor) and the always tenacious Frits Bus. Benoit won five of the six races on Saturday and two of the three races on Sunday.
“The conditions were excellent, 14-15 knots Easterly on Saturday and 18-20 on Sunday,” reported Benoit. “It was a wonderful regatta as usual.”
The Open class was won by Benoit Meesemaecker in 1st place, Rhone Findlay as 2nd place and Asher Drijgers took 3rd place. Frits Bus won the Masters class followed by Olivier Bernaz in 2nd place and 3rd place went to Dominican Republic’s Jorge Abreu. The Radial class was won by Cindi Pumbo in 1st place, Carson Gifford took 2nd place and Sebastien Luir in 3rd.
“We had strong wind on Sunday which suited us heavier sailors,” added Frits Bus. “It was always close racing and Rhone did very well, finishing second in overall scoring.”
The regatta was organized by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club with the always capable Andrew Rapley as Race Officer with his assistants, and was made possible by Heineken Light, Fiji Water, Island Water World, Sunsail, Club Orient, Bikini Bear Bar & Restaurant.
More information can be found at www.laserchamps.com. for additional images please contact The Sint Maarten Yacht Club
