ANTIGUA YACHT CLUB

Antigua Yacht Club held its Annual Laser Championships, this year known as the Club Sushi Annual Laser Championships, over the weekend of March 15 and 16, 2014. Thirteen sailors participated in the event, including two sailors from visiting yachts, and Antigua’s youth sailing contingent was well represented.

Racing got underway at 9:30 on Saturday morning in ideal conditions. Winds were steady at approximately 12 to 15 knots with clear skies and no squalls in the area. When everyone broke for lunch after the first three races held on Saturday morning, Shawn Malone was in the lead with three first place finishes, Lewis Fitzgerald was in second place and past Commodore, Alan Hart, was in third.

Club Sushi stepped up as sponsor of the Championships this year and provided all the sailors and race committee members with a complimentary lunch of burgers, fries and drinks. The food was delicious and devoured by the hungry sailors. They had difficulty getting back out on the race course after so much delicious food!

After lunch an additional two races were held with slightly more wind but continued perfect conditions.  Shawn got another bullet in the first race but in the second slipped to second place finish. The competition was extremely close with several of Antigua’s youth sailors doing very well including Lewis Fitzgerald, Jules Mitchell and Rhone Kirby.  Sailors and race committee alike gathered at Club Sushi for refreshments following the day’s racing.

The fleet reconvened on the start line on Sunday morning at 9:30 for a final three races. The wind had picked up a little and was very shifty, making for some interesting results in those three races. A total of eight races were held, allowing for one discard for each sailor. When the results were tallied Shawn Malone won the event, with only 11 points. In second place was Antiguan youth sailor Lewis Fitzgerald with 21 points and very close behind in third place was another Antiguan youth sailor, Jules Mitchell, with only 22 points.

Club Sushi hosted another delicious lunch of fish and chips for participants and committee and was the venue for the prize giving ceremony.  Club Sushi also very generously donated prizes for the winners including a marine pocket knife and a North Sails backpack among other great prizes!

Thanks to the Committee for volunteering their time over the course of the weekend, to all the sailors for participating and a great big thanks to Angie of Club Sushi for generously donating lunches on two days and some lovely prizes!

Click here to view full results.