Our youth sail through Orange Bowl

Cayman’s youth sailors had a great year, proudly representing Cayman at a number of overseas regattas, but the real climax to the year came in the very last week with 11 sailors traveling to Miami for the Orange Bowl regatta.  

The Orange Bowl is the largest youth regatta in the United States and one of the largest in the world with more than 700 sailors from 25 countries and more than 30 states. The team, accompanied by Coach Raph and Coach Kristine, got up at the break of dawn on Boxing Day to travel to the four-day regatta. The sheer size of the racing fleets was the biggest obstacle they had to overcome, and they all showed just how far youth sailing in the Cayman Islands have come by fighting it out with the very best. 

In the Laser 4.7 class, Pablo Bertran took second place overall, with Florence Allan in seventh. Georgia Heaver-Wren and James Allen were competing in their first overseas regatta and gained invaluable experience from competing at this level. Georgia had one standout race where she rounded the top and bottom mark in second place. She later admitted that “it was the only time that I’ve ever been terrified and happy at the same time.”  

Coach Raph Harvey was extremely proud of his sailors.  

“As a small country, we are used to saying that we did well not to come last in large international events, but to hear the Cayman Islands being called up to the prize-giving podium at such a major event gives you a wonderful feeling,” Harvey said. “These guys have trained hard and moved up a level. They can be very proud of their achievements.”  

In the Laser radial class, Jesse Jackson and Shane McDermott raced in a fleet of 127 boats against some very talented sailors and held their own to achieve mid fleet places.  

The younger sailors were racing in the Optimist class and also achieved astonishing success. Allena Rankine was competing in her second Orange Bowl in a championship fleet of 240 boats and what a difference a year made with her 84th place, representing a 138-place improvement.  

Will Jackson was also in the fleet, coming in 215th place. The green fleet, which is for less experienced sailors, had 60 boats and again Cayman sailors had people talking, with Charles Allen in eighth place and Monique Hernandez in 10th, collecting trophies. Caylem Hill was 31st. 

Back in Cayman, Coach Harvey reflected on the youth team.  

“As a coach, I am very excited with the strides the sailors have all made at this regatta and I cannot wait to get back out on the water to start improving on the things we have learned from sailing against such talented competitors.  

“The next major event will see four of our sailors trying to qualify for this year’s Youth Olympic Games at the Byte C2 regatta, which is to be held at the end of February in Jensen Beach, Florida, so we have to get out there and practice, practice, practice. It’s great to know that these kids will push themselves to do their very best.”