St Lucians Excel at Dinghy Championships

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This past weekend saw the biggest ever dinghy championship regatta in St Lucia with 48 Optimist and Laser sailors all between ages nine to18. It was an awesome sight to see 48 white sails on the horizon in Rodney Bay this weekend and a wonderful success for regatta organizers and St Lucian sailors.
The St Lucia Yacht Club host of the National Championships has the only Youth Sailing Program on the island from which St Lucian children can gain the unique experience, knowledge and skills of dinghy sailing from great coaches in a well structured, child friendly program.
The 2012 National Dinghies Championships had 48 entries in five classes of sail. St Lucia’s 15 sailors sailed extremely well in perfect conditions and their results show it. In the Optimist Green Fleet, from which beginner sailors get their first taste of competition, Daniela Chavez and Loick Mouyon competed on their own small course in front of the St Lucia Yacht Club. Chavez took home her first trophy for her success in this class.
Malo Desriviere (Martinique) was the overall winner in the Optimist Benjamin Class for competitors 11 and under, with Guillaume Chevrier finishing sixth overall and the first St Lucian national and winner of the Ted Bull Benjamin Optimist Champion Trophy.
In the Optimist (over 11) Class sailing for St Lucia were: Luc Chevrier, Konstantin Tonkopi, Richard Beausoliel, Chrisanki Modeste and Adoni Prospere. The overall winner of this class was Jimmy Marchand (Martinique) with Luc Chevrier in sixth place overall taking home the National Optimist Champion trophy sponsored by Jonathan Everett.
Both laser classes of racing were dominated by St Lucian sailors. Their exceptional performance reflects a proud determination, strong effort and the great skill of our young sailors, all who are products of the SLYC Youth Sailing Program.
In the Laser 4.7 Class, St Lucian sailors took the top four positions overall: Stephanie Devaux-Lovell (16) raced extremely well and finished a strong first. She captured the overall champion trophy as well as the National Champion Trophy sponsored by IGY Marina. Marcus Sweeney (16) finished a close second, Scott Anthony (18) third, Marc Spurway (15) fourth, Cameron Lumkong (14) and Kevin Joseph finished ninth and 10th respectively.
In the Laser Radial Class Stephanie Devaux-Lovell again powered her way through seven races and was second to Martinique’s Bruno Algae by only two points. She took home the National Champion Trophy for this class which was sponsored by Chris Renwick. St Lucia’s Marc Spurway, Marcus Sweeney and Scott Anthony took third, fourth and fifth position respectively and Dylan Charles placed eighth overall.
The Regatta Director and Administrator of the Youth Sailing Program at the St Lucia Yacht Club, Lily Bergasse, was extremely pleased with St Lucia’s young sailors and the overall success of this the first National Championship Regatta of this size. Thanks must go to all the volunteers who helped to make the regatta a success; to the St Lucia Yacht Club for hosting the event and to primary regatta sponsors: IGY Marina, Island Water World, and Johnson’s Marine Centre.
The regatta committee and sailors were very grateful to have additional sponsorship from DuBoulay’s Bottling Company, Ferrands Dairy, Lumnat Distributor Ltd and Paradise Springs. The Regatta Director gives special thanks to the St Lucia Marine Police and St Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority. They were on the water throughout the weekend, to ensure the success and safety of the event in Rodney Bay. For more information about dinghy sailing and the youth program contact the St Lucia Yacht Club, 452-8350.

Stephanie Devaux-Lovell was a force to contend with at the National Dinghy Championships

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