Juniors impress at 1st Clarke’s Court Bay Marina Regatta

Shakeem Collins and Rees Evans receiving
their first-place prizes and trophies for the Laser Class
from Sarah Baker of the Grenada Sailing Festival.

Young sailors from Gouyave, Woburn, Grenada Yacht Club and the sister island of Carriacou enjoyed a new opportunity to show their racing talent when they took to the water on Saturday (October 20) in the first ever Clarke’s Court Bay Marina Junior Regatta.

Twenty young sailors, ranging in age from 7 to 18 years, raced in three different classes: Optimists, Mosquitos and Lasers, to make up an impressive fleet of 18 dinghies, and show the depth of sailing skills Grenada’s youth have to offer.

Clarke’s Court Bay provided a perfect location and conditions were excellent for a full day of racing, with competitors enjoying 12-13 knot breezes out of the east. A total of 15 races were completed using a triangle course in the bay: 5 for Lasers, 5 for Optimists, 4 for Mosquitos and 1 Masters’ Race (a fun Optimist race for adults). Considering the wide range of age and experience, competition was fierce and racing tactics employed with skill and determination, with two official protests lodged for the Race Committee to adjudicate. However, the day was characterised by great sportsmanship and discipline for which the young sailors and their coaches should be congratulated.

Brent McQueen receiving his first prize & trophy for the
Optimist Class from Sarah Baker of Grenada Sailing Festival.

Shakeem Collins and crew Rees Evans took first place in an extremely competitive Laser Class; their competitors just one and two points behind them. Brent McQueen dominated the Optimist Class, with Noah Bullen in second place, and  in the biggest fleet of nine Mosquitos, diminutive 11-year-old Trevell James tenaciously held on to the top spot by one point from Karzim James, who had three seconds and one first.

Mike Lee, a coach from Mambo ML Sailing Team in the UK, who is in Grenada talent spotting, attended the event and was extremely impressed by the high skill level of the young sailors. Mike, who has several World, European and National Champions to his credit, is looking for future members of his Sailing Team sponsored by Sperry Top-Sider UK & Rooster Sailing, two companies playing a key role in supporting young sailors. Mike has kindly offered his experience and help to look at ways to introduce more dinghy classes in Grenada to help fill the gap between Optimists and Lasers and increase the potential racing experience for Junior Sailors on the island.

Trevell James receiving his first prize & trophy for the
Mosquito Class from Sarah Baker of Grenada Sailing Festival.

This is the first junior sailing event to be staged at Clarke’s Court Bay, organised and hosted by Clarke’s Court Bay Marina, and helped by coaches Kevin Banfield, Michael McQueen and Randy Manwaring, plus a group of volunteers from Grenada Sailing Association, Grenada Sailing Festival, as well as Cruisers based here in Grenada.  The organisers would especially like to thank Ellen Birrell of SV Boldly Go, Ronny Ramos, Olympic sailor from Puerto Rico, and their Race officers for such excellent Race Committee organisation; Jason Fletcher of Grenada Marine for providing additional dinghies; Nicholas George and Frank Pearce for providing and driving the Safety and Chase Boats, and Dr. Joe Amechi, St. Augustine’s Medical Services, for being Doctor On Call.

As well as great racing action there were other activities and entertainment on land, based at the Marina’s Oasis Bar, including a Raffle, ‘Treasures of the Bilge’ Sale & recycling drive, plus great food and drinks and live music. Valuable sponsorship support was received from Budget Marine, Horizon Yacht Charters, Island Water World, Sailing School Grenada, Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Coca Cola, Real Value Supermarket, Independence Agencies, Poli Natural Spring Water, and Glenelg Spring Water. Local businesses and restaurants also helped by providing great prizes for the Raffle to raise funds for Junior Sailing: Bananas Restaurant, Dodgy Dock, Le Chateau, Taffy’s at Island View, BB’s Crabback, Carib Sushi, La Boulangerie, Bluebeard Enterprises, La Heliconia, Le Phare Bleu, Horizon Yacht Charters, Budget Marine, Spice Isle Retreat, X Marine and The Merry Baker. There is still a chance to win these fantastic prizes, as raffle tickets are still on sale and the draw will be made on Sunday, November 4 at the Gouyave Sailing School Junior Regatta.

Full Results:
Class /Place/Skipper/Crew
Laser – 1. Shakeem Collins/Rees Evans
Laser – 2. Kwesi Paul/Justin James
Optimist – 1. Brent McQueen
Optimist – 2. Noah Bullen
Optimist – 3. Ralph Francis
Mosquito – 1. Trevell James
Mosquito – 2. Karzim James
Mosquito – 3. Sharkim Robertson
Masters’ Race/Optimist – 1. Kevin Banfield
Masters Race/Optimist – 2. Mike Lee Team Sperry