October 27, 2024 – Simpson Bay, St. Maarten, St. Maarten wrapped up an unforgettable weekend as the 2024 Caribbean Dinghy Championship came to a close with thrilling racing and impressive displays of skill. The final day saw sailors tackle three more races, pushing the total to the maximum of 15, thanks to a dedicated Race Committee lead by RO Paul Henriquez determined to deliver a competitive experience for all. Antigua was victorious and will again be taking the Nation’s Cup Trophy back home with them, for the fifth consecutive time in a row.
Today’s racing conditions kept sailors on their toes, delivering the most challenging winds of the weekend. Averaging around 10-12 knots, the breeze seemed promising, but scattered “soft spots” across the course made navigation tricky and forced competitors to adjust their tactics constantly. The ILCA fleet’s final race captured this unpredictability perfectly—just as the start signal sounded, the wind suddenly dropped out! Thankfully, the breeze soon returned, allowing the boats to pick up speed and finish the final race strong. It was a perfect end to an action-packed weekend at the Caribbean Dinghy Championship.
The RS Zest fleet kept the excitement alive, even without surprises for podium placement. St. Martin’s Oceane Chilou and Neo Barbet put in a stellar performance, claiming all first-place finishes today. While it wasn’t enough to take first place overall from St. Maarten’s Oskar Jarrett Versteegden and Chris Meekhof, they narrowed the gap to just five points. Mikhaela Browne and Sion Gachette from Trinidad & Tobago held steady in third place.
The RS Quest class delivered another thrilling day of racing, with high-stakes competition right to the end! Team St. Maarten’s Joris and Axel Vanden Eynde came out strong, grabbing two bullets early in the day, pulling ahead of their closest rivals, Antigua’s Patrick Greensmith and Alistair Knoblauch. But Antigua fought back in the final race, seizing first place hoping for a last-minute comeback! In the end, The Vanden Eyndes claimed the overall win in the RS Quest class, with Greensmith & Knoblauch taking second place, and Merlin Guier and Pascal Belle from St. Martin rounding out the podium in third.
Optimist Fleet saw St. Maarten’s Nathan Sheppard sail with unwavering focus, ending with two bullets and securing first place overall. Antigua’s Tyden Jones stayed close, claiming a strong second, while Aymeric Arminjon representing St. Martin took third, making it a well-fought podium.
The ILCA 4 fleet brought exceptional talent to the water, promising a bright future for these young sailors. Antigua’s Carrack Jones was affected by the tricky conditions of the day but, thanks to two solid days of racing and plenty of first-place finishes, secured the top spot overall. Close behind, St. Martin’s Clement Le Normand shined with two bullets today, landing him in second place. Barbados’s Savannah Grace Stuart made an impressive push for the podium, starting the day with a first-place finish and keeping ahead of Massimo Lapierre to take third overall.
The ILCA 6 class showcased some of the strongest sailing of the event, with Antigua’s Shanoy Malone delivering a standout performance. Malone’s impressive record included 13 bullets out of 15 races—a rare feat that secured her a commanding overall win. Her level of skill was evident, even discarding a first-place finish! St. Maarten’s Rio Stomp put up a fierce fight, staying competitive throughout and earning a well-deserved second place. Meanwhile, Trinidad & Tobago’s Josiah Alexis sailed with steady consistency, holding on to third place.
Today the ILCA 7 class delivered one of the weekend’s most thrilling showdowns, with an intense rivalry between Antigua’s Ozani Lafond and Trinidad & Tobago’s Stefan Stuven in the final race. The two battled fiercely from start to finish, with Stuven keeping close on Lafond’s heels, matching him tack for tack. While it didn’t come down to a photo finish, Stuven came tantalizingly close to taking a win from Lafond.
Race Officer Paul Henriquez remarked, “It was fantastic to witness. Lafond has had only Meesemaecker to challenge him most of the weekend, but Stuven really adapted to the conditions and his competitors over the course of the weekend, showcasing this especially in that final race.”
In the end, Lafond held onto his first place, with Benoit Meesemaecker from St. Barts in second and Stuven in third, rounding out a fiercely competitive ILCA 7 podium.
The Nation’s Cup is awarded as part of the Caribbean Dinghy Championship, this is being scored via the CHIP 3 High Point Scoring System. Antigua took first place with 4432 points, followed by Sint Maarten with 4260 points, and St. Martin in third place with 3942 points.
Special recognition goes to the team from St. Vincent. who proudly sent three sailors to compete in the Caribbean Dinghy Championships for the very first time, marking only their second appearance at a regional event after participating in the Antigua ILCA and Optimist Open Championships in 2023. The team shared their excitement, saying, “It was wonderful to race in another regional event and measure our skills against other Caribbean competitors while making new friends along the way. We had the chance to connect with more experienced racers and coaches from other teams, and we feel we’ve gained valuable insights to take back home. We’re eager to train hard and come back even stronger!”
Organizers from the Sint Maarten Yacht Club are grateful for the sponsorship of Motorworld and support from Caribbean Sailing Association, Island Water World, Zee Best Bakery, Captain D’s Rib Shack, Don Peros, Toppers, The Scuba Shop, Sint Maarten Yacht Club Bar & Restaurant, SLAC, Budget Marine, Maritime School of the West Indies, Tropical Sail Loft, and St. Martin sailing clubs SMVT and MDA. Another big thank you goes out to the participating sailors from Antigua, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Saint Kitts & Nevis, St. Martin, St. Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Barts and St. Maarten.
And that’s when the final signal sounded for the 2024 Caribbean Dinghy Championship! A highly successful event, based on all the smiles and high fives when sailors came off the water today. Besides the dedication by the sailors, who had to qualify to compete and be able to represent their country. Months of intense practice sessions took place leading up to the event, led by dedicated coaches who push young sailors to their best, whether its nailing race starts, mastering mark roundings, or outsmarting competitors with strategy. The real magic comes from the community that rallies behind the scenes. Parents, friends, and local businesses all dive in to make the event unforgettable. With everyone pitching in, the Caribbean Dinghy Championship becomes more than a race; it’s a celebration of the people and spirit that make sailing in the Caribbean so special.