Four young sailors from the Royal BVI Yacht Club showcased remarkable skill, resilience, and determination at the St. Maarten Yacht Club Budget Marine Optimist Championship, competing against some of the Caribbean’s top talent from seven islands.
The team, consisting of Aerin Westlake and Henry Clifton (13) in the Championship Fleet and Arun Bissoondutt and Ashton Starkey (10) in the Green Fleet, faced challenging conditions across three days of intense racing. Notably, this was Ashton’s first international regatta, marking a significant milestone in his sailing journey.
In the Championship Fleet, Henry Clifton finished 15th overall, with a standout performance placing 7th in race six and 8th in race 10. Henry demonstrated significant improvement, reflecting the benefits of consistent training.
Despite retiring early on day two due to hand injuries, Aerin Westlake managed to place 16th overall with a best result of 8th in race six. Her determination shone through as she continued racing on day three after a mast failure.
In the Green Fleet, Arun Bissoondutt achieved a commendable 4th place overall, narrowly missing the podium on countback, tied with 3rd. His best results included two 2nd place finishes.
Ashton Starkey placed 6th overall, showing impressive consistency with his best result being a 2nd place finish in race eight. Ashton’s debut performance highlighted his potential in the sport.
Race Coach James Campbell praised the young sailors for their determination and teamwork, especially given the physically demanding conditions that saw them log nearly 20 hours on the water over three days.
He also extended gratitude to sponsors who made the trip possible and encouraged more children to explore sailing through the Royal BVI Yacht Club.