Virgin Islands sailors, Thad A. Lettsome, left, and Samuel Allen, Right. Photo: VINO/File

Thad A. Lettsome at the 2019 Youth Sailing World Championships in Poland, finished in 19th position overall, however, posted three top 10 finishes across the nine-race series, remaining composed and showed good tactical skills, sticking to and executing his plan for each race. Photo: RVIPF

On 6 July 2019, Mr Samuel Allen (second left) took part in the 2019 Optimist World Championships in Antigua where 259 sailors from 65 nations took part in this prestigious event. Photo: Provided

Lettsome battles 

Mr Lettsome, at the 2019 Youth Sailing World Championships in Poland, finished in 19th position overall.He posted three top 10 finishes across the nine-race series, remaining composed and showed good tactical skills, sticking to and executing his plan for each race.  

According to a press release from the Royal BVI Yacht Club (RBVIYC), while Lettsome’s performance has declined, Day 3 was the best day for the sportsman when winds increased to range from 12-18 knots, much less variable and building through the day. 

“Using sound tactics and boat on boat strategy, he finished 7th in the first race of the day. With stronger winds in the final race, Thad was able to overcome being on the wrong side of the first shift and pass 14 other boats on the final upwind leg to secure ninth to place him in the top five for the day,” the RBVIYC noted.

Lettsome, speaking on his performance said, "It has been a really difficult regatta for me. I am one of the larger sailors in the fleet and prefer to sail in the stronger breeze which we only saw on one day. I am happy with how I worked on my tactics and starts and I know I can battle the top sailors but I still have plenty to work on."

This was Lettsome's third time at the Championships, where he finished in 33rd place in 2017 in China and 14th in 2018 in the USA.  

Samuel Allen 

On July 6, 2019, Samuel Allen represented in Antigua to take part in the 2019 Optimist World Championships where 259 sailors from 65 nations took part in this prestigious event.

The release notes, “Allen was assigned to the Emerald fleet after the six-race qualifying series. A further four races were completed after the final day's racing was canceled due to small craft weather warnings!”

Unfortunately, VI’s Allen had to carry two letter scores from Day 2 due to illness but remained committed to finish overall in 251st position.

2019 PanAm Games

Meanwhile, the release stated that Lettsome will further join the VI's track and field super-stars in Peru as part of the VI team competing at the 2019 Pan American Games.

He will compete in the men's one-person dinghy event sailing a Laser against 21 sailors from across North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean and is the first sailor from the Virgin Islands since the 1990s to compete at a PanAm Games, which is also a qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” 

"I am eager and excited to get back into the Laser. It will be a very different regatta [to Poland] and I've got the opportunity to have a go at qualifying for one of the two remaining Olympic spots for North American sailors," he said.

Mr Lettsome has the additional honour of being the VI flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony.

Sailing is scheduled to start on August 3 and conclude on August 10, 2019.