Sol Optimist Challenge 2nd plc - (L-R) Sol Optimist Challenge second place sailors Gary Cottreau, Noah Cottreau, and Thad Lettsome with Konris Maynard, facility supervisor for Sol. Photo: Sol

Sol Optimist Challenge 1st plc - (L-R) Monique Putley, RBVIYC and Sol Optimist Challenge first place racer, Rayne Duff, with Konris Maynard, facility supervisor for Sol. Photo: Sol

Sol Nanny Cay donation to RBVIYC - (L-R) Chris Haycraft, Commodore Royal BVI Yacht Club, Rayne Duff, and James Rajic-Knight, receive donation from Cameron McColl, owner Nanny Cay, and David Antrobus, General Manager, Sol St Maarten. Photo: Sol

RBVIYC raffle prize winner - Harold Keating, from S/Y Shamrock VI, collects a Royal BVI Yacht Club raffle grand prize from David Antrobus, General Manager, Sol St Maarten at the BVI Spring Regatta 2013 Awards Ceremony. Photo: Sol

For the third consecutive year, the RBVIYC was hosted under the Sol tent at the Regatta Village from where the club members orchestrated the raffle ticket sales for their annual fundraising drive. The efforts surpassed previous years’ results to raise $7000 which will be used to purchase equipment for the RBVIYC’s youth sailing programme.

Sol, a gold sponsor of the BVISR since 2006, also took the opportunity over the weekend to present a quarterly cheque donation towards the RBVIYC youth sailing programme. The gift comes from funds collected through an ongoing initiative collaboratively run with Nanny Cay. The arrangement generates monies for the RBVIYC junior sailing programme from every gallon of fuel sold at the Nanny Cay Marina fuel dock.

“Sol has been supplying the marine industry in the region for several years,” said Roger Bryan, Regional Manager (OECS) for Sol. “Our support of the BVI Spring Regatta and for youth sailing is part of our involvement with the mariners. We are particularly pleased to be contributing in practical, enjoyable, and engaging ways that will help to progress the sport of sailing and the territory’s young sailors.”

Eight teams took part in the Sol Optimist Challenge which was organized by the RBVIYC to showcase the club’s junior sailing programme. The format was a relay race with teams of three comprising one racer, one beginner, and one adult. The winning team was Rayne Duff (Racer), Richard Wooldridge (Adult) and William Dawson (Beginner). In second place were Thad Lettsome (Racer), Gary Cottreau (Adult), Noah Cottreau (Beginner). Third place went to James Dawson (Racer), Kim Duff (Adult), Jaheim Christie (Beginner). The winners received recycled glass, sail shaped trophies commissioned from the Green VI Glass Studio in Cane Garden Bay.

During the BVISR final awards ceremony, Mr David Antrobus, General Manager for Sol St Maarten, drew the raffle winners’ names for the five grand prizes. The top prize donated by Sol was a Tortola/San Juan round trip air ticket which was won by the Beltrano family from S/Y Naia. Ms Deborah Benjamin (former country manager for Sol BVI) won a one-night stay and dinner for two at Saba Rock, Mr Harold Keating, from S/Y Shamrock VI, received the Samsung Galaxy “Y”outh phone, while Mr Will Maduro won a luxurious, couples massage at Peter Island. Ms Gillian Plaxton picked up a day sail on a Moorings catamaran. The RBVIYC distributed an additional thirty seven raffle prizes.

Visitors to the Sol tent also were invited to enter a free draw for a chance to win one of four daily Sol branded, premium prizes.

Sol is the largest petroleum company in the BVI and supplies the marine community at Hodges Creek, Nanny Cay Marina, the Moorings, Village Cay, Bitter End, Biras Creek, Peter Island, Oil Nut Bay, Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour and Leverick Bay. Sol is a committed supporter of community initiatives including Virgin Islands Search and Rescue, the Leverick Bay Poker Run, the Conservation and Fisheries Green Pledge, the Moorings Interline Regatta, The Charter Yacht Society Crewed Yacht Show, the Family Support Network, and is a partner of the BVI Athletics Association.