Very shifty winds made racing in the lagoon a real challenge during the first day of the Hope Ross dinghy Series, part of the Grant Thornton Season Championship.
19 competitors in 4 different classes faced these challenges conditions and the race committee was able to start 4 races during the afternoon on Saturday May 22nd.
The 5 Optimist sailors had some real competition going on. Adriaan Coppelmans, Veronica Destin and Chris de Wilde had a battle going on for 2nd, 3rd and 4rth position. As Caii Banting was sailing very consistent and scored 4 bullets. We were happy and proud to see Cato de Wilde participating, she just started racing a few months ago and we see that she makes great progress.
Robbie Ferron won the Sunfast 20 class with 5 points. He left Ian and Ryan Hope Ross, who were sailing with Jolyon Ferron, behind him in second place. Han de Bruyn Kops and Iain Mobbs and their respective crews became 3rd and 4rth.
We were pleased to have 3 RS Quests racing. Summer Morton and Sahil Khatnani ruled in this class with 4 wins. Followed by Melina de Vries and Louka Williams in second place. This was the first time this new team raced in the RS Quest and they did well. They ended up in a tie with Arthur Banting and Caoimhe Brennan who won the championship of capsizing on this very windy and shifty day.
In the Laser Class we had 2 new competitors joining. Sam Peeks, the sailing instructor at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club Sailing School sailed in a laser radial, as well as our new time member Mario Pregliasco. Mario arrived on the island a few months ago for work and is planning on staying for a few years. We will see him more often during the races.
Sam Peeks won the laser class, followed by Justin Pieterse. It was great to see the competition that was going on between these two sailors. Jordan Pieterse became third in the laser 4.7 and Frits Bus became fourth. Francener Faustin sailed his first race in the laser 4.7. He normally sails in a Laser Pico but he did great in these challenging conditions and became 5th.
“We are really proud to see all these kids from the sailing program joining the races. They are making great progress. It was a very challenging day for tactics as the wind kept shifting in all directions. Well done to all competitors. And a big thank you to the ladies from the race committee to run 4 races. We are looking forward to the second day of the Hope Ross Series on June 5th.” Said racing coach Saskia Revelman.
The Hope Ross Day 2 will also be the final dinghy race of the season. On June 5th we will hand out prizes for the Hope Ross series as well as prizes for the Overall Grant Thornton Season Championship. This includes the Soons Series, the Aberson Series, the Hoedemaker Series, the National Dinghy Championship and the Hope Ross Series.
The prize giving is followed by the end of the year party of the SMYC Sailing School. We will reward the kids with their progress report or diploma, have special awards to give away and have a disco.
For photos, results and much more visit www.smyc.com.
