New national champs with their 2024 BVI Dinghy Champs trophy. sPhoto: BVIYC

The day dawned with barely a ripple on the Sir Francis Drake channel but by the time racing got underway a gentle breeze had filled in from the south. Photo: BVIYC

According to a release from the BVI Yacht Club, the eleven boat Optimist fleet was divided into Championship fleet and Green Fleet, the latter being five youngsters competing in their very first regatta.  

The day dawned with barely a ripple on the Sir Francis Drake channel but by the time racing got underway a gentle breeze had filled in from the south. 

The intention was for the green fleet to sail a shorter course but they sailed so well in the first race that they sailed the same course through the rest of the day!  Overall winner, Henry Clifton, who also had time during the first race to inform two of the most experienced ILCA sailors that they were sailing the wrong course, put in a strong performance all day winning all but one of the races.

The only sailor to take a win from Henry was Aerin Westlake who after posting two seconds and a first to set up a great contest for the next races unfortunately had to retire following an injury.  Second place went to Piper Bailey who sailed a very focussed and consistent day to count two seconds, two thirds and a fourth.  Next up was Arun Bissoondutt who clinched second in the final race to finish ahead of Maggie Nolan by just one point.  Aerin and Jake Richardson rounded out the fleet.

All of the green fleet sailors showed some impressive skill throughout the day, completing six races and mixed it up with the championship fleet sailors.  Aged between 7 and 10 years this group of five have only just joined the RBVIYCs race training classes.  Congratulations to all of them and especially to Ashton Starkey, Charlie Knock and Rosie Wooldridge who all achieved a first. Aria Gitonga placed third twice displaying her usual eagerness to improve her sailing.  The youngest sailor of the group Marc Andreas Skipwith sailed confidently all day enjoying every moment with a smile.

With a windward leeward course set the ILCAs and RS Fevas raced together to complete a total of seven races.  The first bullet in the ILCA7 class went to Colm Crilly but, until the final race when Tubes snuck across the line first by the smallest of margins, all the other races were won by the overall winner Graham Harney.  Andrew “Tubes” Thompson finished in second overall with that final race win proving crucial to break a the tie with Crilly who took third.

Marc Skipwith was delighted to finish third in the final race a position that had proved elusive through the rest of the day despite some very close finishes.  Graeme Maccallum finished in fifth position and Christian Thompson in sixth after retiring from racing due to equipment malfunction.

Three boats contested the IlCA6 title which also came down to positions in the final race.  Ultimately, with five bullets from the seven races, Bijorn Bullock came out on top ahead of Gabrielle Vita.  Third place went to Marentia de Villiers who had to skip a couple of races whilst her boat was emptied…always pays to check the bung!

The RS Feva class was dominated by Kay Reddy and Liz Buratti who won every race. The question is will the celebratory hand stand and back flip catch on across the rest of the classes?!  Second were Ashley Brockbank and Ciara van der Merwe and third was Rhiannon Jones and Grainne Hussey who switched around the helming duties throughout the day.

The RVIYYC thanked everyone who came out to race, the race committee, mark boat and safety boat teams, all the volunteers and parents and as their sponsors and partners, Nanny Cay, Nagico and Doyle Sailmakers for their continued support.