ANTIGUA YACHT CLUB

NEWS AND SPECIALS

Back to Antigua Yacht Club

OZANI LAFOND, OVERALL WINNER OF SOL ST. MAARTEN OPTIMIST CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday 18th November 2019

Thirty-one youth sailors from St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Barths, Antigua, Curacao and St. Martin traveled to St. Maarten to sail in the 14th edition of the Sol St. Maarten Optimist Championship, held November 9th and 10th and hosted by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club (SMYC). Sponsored by Sol Petroleum, fifteen sailors ages 8 – 15 joined the Orange (intermediate) Class and sixteen were in the advanced/ Blue Class. The winner of the Blue Class and overall winner of the event was fourteen-year-old Antiguan sailor Ozani Lafond who won 7 out of 11 races and showed how much he has learned after coming in 9th place last year.


From left to right: Mikias Michaux (Best Newcomer from Club de Voile de Friar's Bay), Kaemen Floyd (Sportsmanship winner from Nevis Yacht Club), Tyden Jones (2nd Place Orange class), Henry Greensmith (3rd place Orange Class) and Carrack Jones (1st place Orange Class). In the middle our main sponsor and host, David Antrobus from Sol Petroleum. On the right from him: Ozani Lafond (overall winner), Shanoy Malone (2nd place Blue Class) and Daniel Anglin (3rd place Blue Class).

The expectation was that this year was going to be very competitive due to a large Blue Class and great sailors from all over the Caribbean. “This year we had a pretty high level of racing with a lot of competitors that where finishing close to each other. We had strong winds on Saturday and Sunday which required a lot of perseverance from the youth sailors in the Orange Class. The strong winds gave the Blue Class the opportunity to shine,” according to sailing instructor Reinier Calkhoven.

Antigua dominated this year’s Sol Optimist Championship with excellent sailing skills and ended up in the top three of both the Orange and the Blue Class. All six sailors on the podium were from Antigua. David Antrobus, General Manager of Sol, presented the trophies to the winners. “It is amazing to see such sailing talent in the region and to be part of this event.”

In the Blue Class, Ozani Lafond went home with the overall trophy and a GO PRO Hero from The Scuba Shop. Shanoy Malone took home 2nd place and Daniel Anglin 3rd.

In the Orange Class, brothers Carrack and Tyden Jones took 1st and 2nd place respectively. With Henrick Greensmith 3rd.

Two additional trophies for Sportsmanship and Best Newcomer were also awarded. Kaemen Floyd form Curacao took home the Sportsmanship trophy by showing great focus despite a major equipment failure with his mast step breaking during a race and still ended up 4th in Blue Class. Best Newcomer was Mikias Michaux from the French side of St. Martin. He showed great skill for his first regatta and first time sailing a fiberglass Optimist. “He was well-deserving of this award and we hope that this will encourage him to keep on racing and honing his skills” said SMYC board member Janet Robertson-Morton.
“This was the first time that youth sailors from the new ‘Club de Voile de Friar’s Bay’ from the French side joined us. It was an awesome collaboration,” says Scott Doyle, racing coach of the SMYC.

There was a lot of support from many volunteers and local and regional businesses. Budget Marine sponsored equipment drybags for the Orange Class winners and Bob Hilbert made special Sol Optimist Championship long sleeve UV-shirts for all the competitors and coaches to wear during the event. The Scuba Shop donated the Go Pro and Ballerina Jewelers an ICE Watch.

“This event is a regional jewel for all the young competitors. We couldn’t have done it with all the help from our sponsors and volunteers that contributed yearly to this event” says Leonde Vermeulen, event manager of the SMYC. “Also, a big thanks to our race officer this weekend, Paul Henriquez, who ensured all smooth sailing. And Carin Adelstein and Clenda Pecht for being on the race committee. This all made this year’s Sol Optimist Championship a huge success!”

“This year we want to thank our main sponsor Sol Petroleum, Divico Distributors, Intertoys, Rainforest Adventures, Van Dorp, Fiji Water, Remax Island Properties, Timeless Spirits, Budget Marine, Realfoods N.V., Domino's, Bob Hilbert, Ballerina Jewelers and The Scuba Shop.

Sol St Maarten Optimist Championship

Sol St. Maarten Optimist Championship is a 2-day Championship and qualifier for the 2020 Optimist World Championships. This year the Sol Optimist Championship took place on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November. It attracts racers from the entire Caribbean, from Curacao to Antigua and St Kitts to St Barth. It is hosted for the 14th year by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club (SMYC). Sol Petroleum is the title sponsor of this event for the 14th year in a row. 


Click here for all News and Specials for Antigua Yacht Club

 
connect with antiguanice.com
FacebookTwitterYoutubeNewsletterRSS

contact
TEL: +1 (268) 460-1799
FAX: +1 (268) 460-1799
EMAIL: ayc@yachtclub.ag
FIND US ON: Facebook
LOCATION: 6 View Map
WEBSITE: Click here

news and specials

MERCHANDISE AT AYC

Tuesday 5th November 2024
The collection includes AYC-branded hats, shirts, and other apparel, making it easy to show club pri...
Read More

MINI REGATTA

Tuesday 29th October 2024
The Antigua Yacht Club is hosting a Mini Regatta on Sunday 10th November. EC$25 for Sailors up to 19...
Read More

NELSON’S PURSUIT RACE

Thursday 24th October 2024
This is a pursuit race and boats will start on a staggered time basis according to their rating. Al...
Read More

NOTICE OF RACE & SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Monday 21st October 2024
Join us for the Boxing Day Barrel 2024 at the Antigua Yacht Club on December 26th! Enjoy two races f...
Read More

NOTICE OF RACE & SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Monday 21st October 2024
The Series will be held Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December 2024, with three races planned for Sa...
Read More

All News Stories and Specials


whats on

JOLYON BRYERLEY SERIES

Saturday 14th December 2024. Read More

JOLYON BRYERLEY SERIES

Sunday 15th December 2024. Read More

BOXING DAY BARREL

Thursday 26th December 2024, 12:00 PM. Read More

All Whats On Listings