Two junior Cayman sailors came away with medals at the Bahamas Optimist National Open Championship Green Fleet, held from 30 Sept to 1 Oct., out of an eight-person team.
The regatta featured nearly 100 sailors ranging from ages 7 to 15, participating from Bahamas and the US, as well as Cayman.
All of Cayman’s sailors were competing for the first time in the beginner green fleet of the Optimist Dinghy Class, which had a total of 35 participants.
Four of Cayman junior athletes finished in the top 10, which included Ebba Collins taking the gold medal.
“I loved going to the Bahamas to race and get to know my team better, make new friends and meet sailors from different countries,” Collins told the Compass. “I really enjoyed the experience and opportunity to represent the Cayman Islands.”
In the same race, Cayman’s Katerina Butterworth won silver, while Marisa Miller finished fifth and Lucas Calleja seventh.
“It was really challenging,” Butterworth said, noting that her coaches were great.
Her head coach, Raph Harvey said in a statement sent to the Compass that he was pleased with how the team charged with youngsters who are determined to learn and succeed despite being beginners in the sport.
“Special mentions go out to Alexander Butterworth, Myles Miller, Sebastian Calleja and Lucas Burke,” Harvey said. “This championship was their first ever international competition. The boys started training on the triangle course three weeks prior to the start of the event. By day two all the nerves were gone.
“The event was an all-round success. It has sparked the racing fire amongst our youngest sailors, which is exactly what all coaches want from their students.”
For some of the young sailors who didn’t hit the podium, they remain determined, excited and motivated.
“This experience has inspired me to continue to work hard and do my best to become the best sailor I can be,” Miller said.
While members of the Cayman contingent admitted to experiencing nerves, others came away feeling that sailing was now their favourite sport.
Many of the local Optimist sailors are expected to compete again in front of the home crowd at the Cayman Islands Youth National Sailing Championships scheduled to take place from 2-3 Dec.
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