The second Keelboat race of the 2022-2023 Grant Thornton Keelboat Championship sailed on Sunday January 22nd with 12 teams.
A great turn out for the second Keelboat Race of the 2022-2023 Keelboat Season Championship, last Sunday. Twelve competitors, divided over 2 classes, showed up on the start line.
The Race Committee saw six boats in the CSA 1 Class; four Melges 24, a J70 and a J105.
The other class raced one design; six Diam 24’s finished two races up to Philipsburg and back.
The CSA 1 class showed fierce competition, Caraibes Diesel, Team Budget Marine, Team Island Water World and Team FKG, all Melges 24’s were in the top 4, after 3 races sailed. Team Budget Marine and Team Island Water World ended up in a tie, both 8 points, but Team Island Water World won the tie. It was Team FKG who took the win of the day, with two bullets and a second place.
Team Franny, J70, helmed by the 17-year-old female Jordan Pieterse came 5th with coaching and guidance of owner Garth Steyn. Jordan shows great progress and will helm the boat in the 2023 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta.
The Diam fleet completed two races; Team Merlin, helmed by Alexis de Boucaud came in third. Diam guru Pierre Altier came in second with the same amounts of points as number one, team Karibuni, helmed by Erick Clement. Both teams won one race and came second the other race, but as Karibuni won the last race he broke the tie in his favor.
Both fleets are getting ready to shine at the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, which is just around the corner. On February 26th the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Warm Up Race is organized by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club, as part of the Grant Thornton Keelboat Season Championship. This is the last practice race before the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta; March 2-5.
We owe another big thank you to all volunteers that made this beautiful day of racing possible. Results can be found on smyc.com/keelboat-series