Nineteen (19) participants raced on the first day of the Hope Ross Series, last Saturday, April 15. The Hope Ross Series are part of the Grant Thornton Dinghy Season Championship and is hosted and organized by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. This first day of the series competitors from the racing team from the Friars Bay Sailing School, Saint Martin Voile pour Tous joined the regatta, as well as competitors from the Saint Barth Yacht Club.
The race committee, led by sailing instructor and race officer Grace Cheasley was able to start 4 races for 4 different classes, Laser, Optimist, RS Quest and RS Zest.
“It was a beautiful day with light wind conditions, with the famous ‘lagoon wind shifts’, said Cheasley”.
With two competitors in the RS Zest class, Massimo La Pierre and Freek Redele competed against each other and ended up in a tie after 4 races sailed. Both sailors won 2 races which shows tight competition. Massimo won the last race, and this made him leader of the class after the first day of sailing.
The Optimist class was the biggest class with 10 participants. Tao Carmona is leading the fleet with a total of 6 points out of 4 sailed races. Followed by Clement le Normand with 9 points. In third place: Sarah Michaux representing Saint Martin Voile pour Tous.
Regular Sint Maarten Sailors in the Optimist class were missed during this regatta, as they were representing Sint Maarten at the Curacao Youth Championship, together with their racing coach Sam Peeks.
In the Laser Class race the committee saw 5 participants. Emma Lennox ended in third position, in a tie with Rio Stomp in fourth place. Emilien Le Normand ended in second position, only one point ahead of Lennox and Stomp. Jordan Pieterse ended in first position.
The RS Quest class saw 2 competitors. Dad and son Pages sailed 4 races together and ended up in second place, behind Antonin Sciou and crew, who won the day with 2 first places and 2 second places.
The second day of the Hope Ross Series will be sailed on May 6th.
The results for Hoedemaker Day 1 can be found on the Sint Maarten Yacht Club Website.
Pictures can be found here.
Sint Maarten Yacht Club
Established in 1980 with the goal to promote sailing on the island of St Maarten. It organizes multiple sailing events throughout the year, with the St Maarten Heineken Regatta as its crown jewel. A youth sailing program stimulates local youngsters to become part of the sailing community, teaching them life skills like team work, perseverance and confidence. Always looking to further develop sailing on St Maarten, the Club is active in promoting the sport, as well as the beautiful destination where it is located.
For more information visit www.smyc.com