For the first time in 19 years, sailors from Cayman took part in the International Sailing Federation’s Youth Sailing World Championship.
They were among more than 450 sailors from 76 countries competing in nine sailboat classes on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia, from Dec. 27 to Jan. 3.
This was the fourth time the Cayman Islands has competed at the championship, the last time being in 1996.
Florence Allan and Pablo Bertran from the Cayman Islands Sailing Club competed in the women’s and men’s laser radial class, respectively. In all, 114 (52 women and 62 men) laser sailors took part.
At the end of the competition, Bertran finished 25th in the men’s division and Allan was 26th in women’s division.
Being two of the lightest sailors at the championship and competing in consistent 18–23 knots easterly breeze on all but the final day of sailing, both sailors displayed true grit.
Coach Raph Harvey said, “I could not have been more proud or ask any more of them. Their downwind prowess was once again on display.”
Orange Bowl Youth Regatta
Four sailors from the Cayman Islands Sailing Club, Andres McDermot, Jesse Jackson, Will and Olivia Jackson, represented Cayman at the Orange Bowl Youth Regatta in Miami from Dec. 27-30 in the Laser Radial Fleet and Optimist Blue and Green fleets.
Eleven races were packed into four days of competition, with excellent conditions of sunny and windy weather prevailing throughout.
McDermot finished 14th and Jackson in 34th place in a 100-strong Laser fleet.
Will Jackson placed 85th in Optimist Blue fleet and Olivia Jackson placed 37th in Optimist Green Fleet.
Coach Joseph Paolone assisted the team throughout the event.
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