Aerin Westlake, right, dominated the Optimist event at the 2024 Back to School Regatta at Nanny Cay on September 28, 2024. Photo: RBVIYC

Optimist sailor Aerin Westlake in action at the 2024 Back to School Regatta at Nanny Cay on September 28, 2024. Photo: RBVIYC

Henry Clifton picked up five second-place finishes to finish second in Optimist sailing at the 2024 Back to School Regatta at Nanny Cay on September 28, 2024. Photo: RBVIYC

Maggie Nolan competing in the 2024 Back to School Regatta at Nanny Cay on September 28, 2024. Photo: RBVIYC

Arun Bissoondutt, the youngest sailor of the group, came out firing in the first race in the Opti fleet and took the first bullet of the day. From there on though, no one could touch Aerin Westlake and she won all of the remaining six races.

The battle for 2nd & 3rd

Fighting it out behind Aerin were Henry Clifton, who picked up five second-place finishes, and Arun who ultimately took second and third respectively.  

Ashton Starkey and Maggie Nolan both put in strong performances with Ashton clinching his best result of the day with a second in the final race.  Maggie picked up third in race 5 and would finish the day in fifth overall.

According to a press release from the Royal BVI Yacht Club, the skills on show from all these youngsters “is fantastic to see” and their hard work at after-school sailing classes is certainly paying off.

More details to follow.