On Saturday morning October 19th, the Hope Ross series started with the first race day. The Hope Ross race day 1 saw 19 boats competing across various classes in great sailing conditions. This two-day series, part of the Grant Thornton Season Championship, follows the recently completed Soons Series and precedes the Multiclass Regatta and the Hoedemaker Series, set to take place later this season.
Races were held on the far side of the Causeway Bridge, as seen from the yacht club, with sailors taking advantage of the good wind conditions. Despite some challenging gusts, the sailors demonstrated great skill throughout the day.
The competing fleet included 4 ILCA sailors, 3 Optimist sailors, 3 Optimist Green sailors (beginner class), 4 RS Quest teams, and 5 RS Zest teams, creating a diverse and exciting mix of talent on the water.
Though no prizes have been awarded yet, the standings after the first day of racing have set the stage for an exciting second race day. In the ILCA Class, Frits Bus leads, with Massimo Lapierre close behind, both representing the Sint Maarten Yacht Club.
In the Optimist Class, Nathan Sheppard holds the top spot, followed by sisters Harper and Adilyn Treadwell in second and third place. The top current top three are all representing the Sint Maarten Yacht Club.
In the Optimist Green class, Adam Gumbs from sailing school Saint Martin Voile Pour Tous is leading, with Axel Vanden Eynde from the Sint Maarten Yacht Club in second place.
Team Alain Pansiot-Villon and Malia Maisonneuve from MDA have secured the lead in the RS Quest Class, while in the RS Zest Class, Oskar Versteegden and Chris Meekhof from the Sint Maarten Yacht Club top the standings after a strong performance.
As the series continues, sailors are looking forward to the second and final race day, when final positions will be determined, and the overall winners of the Hope Ross Series will be announced.
The second and final race day will take place on Saturday, November 16th. All eyes will be on the sailors as they battle to secure their spots and claim victory in this exciting series.