Virgin Islands sailors, Thad Lettsome, left, and Samuel Allen, right, will be proudly carrying the flag of the territory as they compete overseas this month and August. Photo: RBVIYC

The Optimist class is the biggest international sailing class for youth sailors who may compete up to the age of 15. It is a notable marker that many of sailing's greatest stars began their sailing journey in the Optimist. Photo: RBVIYC/File

World Championships & Pan Am Games

17 year old Thad A. Lettsome's first stop will be Gdynia, Poland where he will compete in his third Youth Sailing World Championships. Competing in the Laser Radial, he will face 56 other sailors from around the world in this prestigious one-sailor per nation event. 

This will be Lettsome's third time at the Championships, where he finished in 33rd place in 2017 in China and 14th in 2019 in the USA. 

According to a press release from the Royal BVI Yacht Club (RBVIYC), the Youth Sailing World Championships is the pinnacle event for youth sailors. Held annually since 1971, it is the event that highlights sailing's future Olympic, America's Cup and professional superstars in the sport.

Next up, Lettsome will join the VI's track and field super-stars and travel to Peru as part of the VI team competing at the Pan American Games. Awarded a Universality Place, Lettsome will compete in the men's one person dinghy event sailing a Laser. He is the first sailor since the 1990s to compete at a Pan Am Games which is also a qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Lettsome has the additional honour of being the territory’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony. Racing will start on August 3 through to August 10, 2019.

Coverage from Peru will be provided by Dean H. Greenaway aka 'The Sportsman' through daily reports and via radio broadcast on CBN 90.9FM.

Allen headed to 2019 Optimist World Championships

On July 6, 2019 Team VI youth sailor Samuel Allen will travel to Antigua to take part in the 2019 Optimist World Championships. 259 sailors from 65 nations are registered to compete at this prestigious event with racing starting on Monday July 8, 2019. 

The Optimist class is the biggest international sailing class for youth sailors who may compete up to the age of 15. It is a notable marker that many of sailing's greatest stars began their sailing journey in the Optimist.

The VI has been represented at the Opti Worlds a number of times in recent years, with the most recent being Rayne Duff who competed in 2014, 2015 and 2016 with his best result 60th position in 2015.