Whilst the BVIOC hopes Andersen will qualify for the 2012 London Games it wont be "plain sailing".

Alec Andersen of Roger Williams University was awarded the NEISA Coed Sailor of the week award for his outstanding performances at the Atlantic Coast Dinghy Championships.

On Sunday November 13, 2011, Andersen of Roger Williams University was awarded the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association Coed Sailor of the Week award for his outstanding performances at the Atlantic Coast Dinghy Championships.

Alec Anderson, Sophie Bellacosa, and Tyler Wilson have been named the NEISA Coed Sailors of the Week for their dominant performance at the Atlantic Coast Dinghy Championship at Harvard. Anderson, skipper and his alternate crew Bellicose, and Wilson won B-division in impressive fashion with only 73 points in 18 races and a 21 point margin of victory over second place. They finished top four in 14 of 18 races, including five first place finishes. Their performance carried the Hawks to first place overall.

Skipper, Andersen, who was also named RWU Male Athlete of the Week for November 14, 2011, contributed by sailing in a total of 13 events, helping to finishing in tenth or better in every race but two, resulting in a total of 5 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and 3 third-places finishes this past weekend.

Despite all his successes for both the Hawks and when representing the Virgin Islands, Andersen faces a tough road ahead as he attempts to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics.

According to BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) Treasurer Mark Chapman, the Olympic Committee remains hopeful and fully supportive of Andersen, but foresees a tough challenge ahead. “We don’t know, to be honest, if Alec (Andersen) will qualify. The qualifying standard for his event is tough, he has to go to two qualifying events and one of those is in Australia, so I can’t confirm he will get to that.”

Andersen is also concerned about his lack of weight – at 140lbs, most of his competitors are 175 plus and the Laser has a big sail, so while he can go to the qualifiers he is up against the odds and it won’t be plain sailing.

“He is a very determined Kid, so you just never know,” added BVIOC General Secretary Dean Greenaway.