The Notice of Race for the 2019 Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) Caribbean Dinghy Championship (CDC) is now available.
The CDC review committee has worked hard to keep the best of the existing event format, while also looking at how to deliver on the key objective of increasing participation. Historically, the CDC event was a team event, with 6-sailors per team across 4 classes, and the overall prize was the team trophy
Race officer for the 2019 CDC event and On-the-Water Manager for hosts the Antigua Yacht Club, Karl James, says, “We are happy that the new format event will focus on class events for Laser, Laser Radial, RS Fevas and Optimists but ultimately we still want to encourage and reward participation from teams as big as possible by country. For that reason, we have retained the team trophy, now called the Nations Trophy, winners of which will be calculated from the best performing sailors across all four classes.”
The event will introduce the first Caribbean-based inclusive regatta, with sailors being invited to participate in two new ‘Para Sailing’ classes, the RS Venture Connect SCS (Seated Control System) and the Hansa 303. As well as the addition of inclusive equipment to the CDC, a ‘Fun Class’ consisting of two-person RS Zest sailboats will be made available for event competitors.
President of the CSA, Alison Sly-Adams added, “Following a very successful World Sailing delivered Para Development Program (PDP) Clinic hosted by Sailability Antigua in January, we committed to ensuring the CDC would be a fully inclusive regatta. The addition of the two new classes which are appropriate for people who are either physically or intellectually impaired will be the first regatta of its kind in the region. We look forward to seeing how we can help support the growth of Sailability programmes across the region.”
The CSA would like to encourage early entry of the event to help with planning and logistics and has therefore included a new early-payment discount.
In 2019 the event will take place as part of the newly named Caribbean Sailing Week alongside the CSA Annual Conference, clinics and training.
Visit www.caribbeansailingweek.com to read the NOR and find out more about the entire week.
