St. Maarten concluded an unforgettable weekend as the St. Maarten Budget Marine Optimist Championship came to a close with an exciting final morning of racing. Despite the toll of the past two days: blisters on their hands and tired eyes, the competitors showed incredible determination, all making it to the start line for one last showdown. Optimist sailors tackle three more races, making it a total of 15 races, thanks to a dedicated Race Committee lead by Race Officer Mathieu Maudet.
Today’s racing conditions kept sailors on their toes, delivering again challenging winds and waves. With averaged winds from 10-12 knots, the race brought some unique challenges. The mega yachts around the course made things tricky for the sailors. To further spice things up, the Race Committee introduced a reaching start, a big change from the previous two days’ courses. This fresh twist not only elevated the excitement but also shook up the results, with some new faces finishing in top positions. Despite this new course and results of today the podium places did not change compared to yesterday.
In the Green Fleet, Ethan Blanchet from the St. Bart emerged as the overall winner, claiming first place in front of 12 other green fleet sailors. From the very start, Ethan showcased exceptional dedication and determination, securing first place in 9 of the 15 races, a truly remarkable performance. Axel Vanden Eynde from St. Maarten earned a well-deserved second place, followed by the impressive nine-year-old Saul Claus Laroche from Saint Martin, who rounded out the podium in third. A noteworthy effort in the green fleet is made by Christian van der Horst from St. Maarten, who started sailing only in September. Not only did he compete in 14 of the 15 races, but he managed to create an interesting challenge for the competitors in the Green Fleet.
In the Optimist Benjamin class, it was again a sailor from St. Barth who took the top spot. Stanley Haes delivered an outstanding performance to claim first place, with Oskar Jarrett Versteegden from Sint Maarten close behind him in every race. Leo Favreau from St. Barth finished strong in third place. The reaching created a twist in the starting positions of the Benjamin Fleet, resulting in unexpected high notations in some races. The last race of the event was won by Greyson Burrell from St Kitts and Nevis, giving him a sixth overall place.
The Optimist fleet delivered an exciting battle for first place, keeping everyone on edge. In the end, it was a St. Barth sailor who claimed victory once again. Thomas Magras secured the top spot, narrowly edging out Nathan Sheppard from St. Maarten. The two sailors fought fiercely, trading leading positions throughout the competition. In the last races the competition for the third place started to heat up. Tao Carmona Bouvrais secured the third place for the last two days, but this morning Lourenço Rolo Couto Jorge challenged him, coming in first in race 13 and 15. With one point difference, Carmona Bouvaris however claimed his spot on the podium.
Sheppard not only secured an impressive second-place finish overall, but he was also honored with the prestigious title of “St. Maarten National Optimist Champion.” This title is reserved exclusively for a St. Maarten resident and handed out to the highest St. Maarten competitor in the Optimist Fleet.
In addition to the top 3 placements and the national championship, two special trophies were awarded. Axel Vanden Eynde received the Sportsmanship Trophy for his selfless act of helping a teammate bail water out of their boat during a race. Saul Claus Laroche was honored with the Best Newcomer Trophy for his outstanding performance as the top newcomer to the competition in the Green Fleet.
Organizers from the Sint Maarten Yacht Club are grateful for the sponsorship of Budget Marine and support from Zee Best Bakery, Captain D’s Rib Shack, The Scuba Shop, Tri Sports, Random Wind, Sint Maarten Yacht Club Bar & Restaurant, SLAC, St. Martin sailing club Saint Martin Voile pour Tous, St Barth Yacht Club and Anguilla Yacht Club.
Another big thank you goes out to the participating sailors from Antigua, BVI, Curacao, Guadeloupe, Saint Kitts & Nevis, St. Martin, St. Barts and St. Maarten.
And so, the Optimist Championship comes to a close a sucessfull event, judging by the smiles of sailors returning from the water today. This success was thanks to the dedication of the young sailors, who had to qualify to represent their countries. It was also made possible by months of hard training, guided by coaches who worked tirelessly to help these athletes perform at their best.