Virgin Islands Olympic sailor Thad A. Lettsome, right, posted a 2nd place finish in Race 4 of 10 as he competed in the second day of racing in the Men’s Dinghy ILCA7 today, Friday, August 2, in Marseille, France. Photo: World Sailing/Sander van de Borch

Virgin Islands' sailor Thad A. Lettsome (ILCA7) competes on Day 1 of the Men’s Dinghy races at the Paris 2024 Games in Marseille, France. Photo: Worldsailing/Sander van der Boch

Thad A. Lettsome became the first athlete from the [British] Virgin Islands to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as he completed the first day of racing in the Men’s Dinghy ILCA7 today, August 1, 2024, in Marseille, France. Photo: BVIOC/Facebook

The schedule of events for [British] Virgin Islands' athletes at the Olympic Games in France. Photo: BVIOC/Facebook

The remarkable achievement improves Lettsome’s overall standing to a 34/43 position as he prepares to compete in 6 more races over the next 3 days.

According to a report from the BVI Olympic Committee 9BVIOC), heading out to the first racecourse of the day for the 3rd race in the Men’s Dinghy series, Lettsome had set the goal of getting better starts. While he started among the leaders, he was not able to hold the position for the remainder of the race. Lettsome dropped to the middle and the back of the pack, completing the race 36/43.

'Different approach'

Lettsome took a different approach to Race 4 and started from a more open area with a view to sailing around the fleet. The higher risk tactic paid off.

“I had a good start and was able to sail in clear breeze and execute my own plan,” said Lettsome. “I made sure I kept my eye on the other sailors and stayed between them and the mark. I ended up rounding the first mark 1st and finishing the race 2nd.”

Coach Watters reflected on the day’s events noting that following the 3rd race, the two had discussions on making changes for the 4th race and gave insights on the legs between the marks.

“He started with good company around him, including a medalist from past Games, and from that point forward, he just sailed an incredible race and led the first beat,” said Watters. “He split from the sailor on the next leg, and by the top mark he was 3rd in the first group. He managed to pass one boat on the last downwind and close the gap with the first to end the day in 2nd. To hold on to the lead and not let it slip the whole time was awesome to watch. This is the potential that we’ve seen from Thad these past few months and today he sailed super well.”

Coach and sailor will review the races and recap on the execution of the objectives as they discuss how to apply lessons learned for the upcoming Races 5 and 6 on August 3.

See previous article published August 1, 2024

Thad A. Lettsome kicks off VI Olympic participation in France

- VI sailor had a tough day of sailing in Men’s Dinghy ILCA7

Thad A. Lettsome became the first athlete from the [British] Virgin Islands to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as he completed the first day of racing in the Men’s Dinghy ILCA7 today, August 1, 2024, in Marseille, France.

Lettsome closed out the first day with a total of 78 points for a 40/43 position.

Launching his ILCA7 at 12:30 PM, Lettsome made his way to the start line for race 1 of 2. Finishing overall position 40/43, Lettsome said of the first race, “I felt race 1 was a sub-par start, which just made it hard the whole first part upwind, but there were moments where I was in the mix. I made a wrong decision halfway up the first beat, which put me from in the middle towards the back and, from there, you’re just fighting the whole time.”

Setback

Lettsome went on to climb a couple of spots for a 38^th place in race 2 after an incredible 11^th place in rounding the first mark.

“I did what I wanted to do and stuck to my plan and started on the right side and went out to the right side and was in a really good position to round the top mark,” said Lettsome. “But I got sucked into the mix on the downwind with a foul at the bottom mark, where we got shut out and I wasn’t able to round the mark – even though I had the right of way – and it just launched me to the back of the fleet, so I’m pretty upset about that.”

Lettsome rounded the 2^nd mark in position 21 and in position 38 around the final marks. On racing in the top 12 of the fleet upwind to the first mark, Lettsome said, “It shows that I can do it, but I just have to work on some little things and a couple of decisions, because the group ahead of me was just that further ahead and they didn’t end up in the mix that I did. I knew I was doing well so I am encouraged to hear that I was 11^th rounding the mark and plan to do it again tomorrow.”

Learning experience

Watching the racing from the venue at Plage de Prado, Team Leader Tamsin Rand explained that sailing in the lead pack – at times in 8^th and 9^th position – was no mean feat.

“Thad’s still young and he’s racing against much more experienced sailors, so to make it up in the top of the fleet and sustain the position rounding the mark is really quite remarkable,” said Rand. “It’s all about making the right decisions in these races. He’ll be going over today’s race with Coach Chris Watters and reviewing his tactical decisions to make adjustments in his next events.”

Lettsome competes in ILCA7 races 3 and 4 on Friday, August 2 with further twice-daily races on August 3, 4 and 5. The medal race takes place on August 6. 

Meanwhile, Track and field events for the VI athletes take place at the Stade de France in Paris and start on August 3 when Rikkoi A.R. Brathwaite will compete in the 100m rounds starting at 5:45 AM AST. Adaejah T. Hodge will take to the blocks in the 200m rounds on August 4 starting at 4:55 AM AST. Kyron A. McMaster competes in the 400m hurdles heats on August 5 starting at 4:05 AM AST.