Sam Morrell put good starts into practice and executed flawless timing and putting up 6 firsts over 6 races on the final day to ensure his overall win In the Open Bic class,  taking the crown as from his older brother, Josh Morrell who was the previous year’s winner.

For the first break of the 2008/2009 school season, 18 youth sailors left their fresh new textbooks and HB pencils to take part in the 3rd annual Royal BVI Yacht Club Back to School Regatta, described as the highest level of competition to date. With the 2008 BVI Optimist Team present, sailors from all over the Virgin Islands, as well as St.Thomas took to the water for some light air racing.  With maximum winds on Saturday and Sunday only reaching 6knts with lows at some points of 2knts. 

After day one, BVI sailors Dontae Hodge (Optimist), Sam Morrell (Open Bic), Inigo Collins (Lasers), were all leading there classes.  They proved that not only they can be fast in heavier winds, but that even with the challenging light winds there was no problem putting up first place finishes in many of the 7 races that were held that day. 

Day two saw similar conditions to the first day, but even-light winds.  Getting a good start in the race would prove to be the major factor in how the finish for the sailor would end up.

Catching the good wind would also make for interesting lead changes with small bursts of wind over different parts of the course.

In the Optimist Fleet, Dontae Hodge would fight off his team mates Jason Putley, Jonathan Woods, and Mollee Donovan, to keep his perfect scorecard of 13 firsts in 13 races over the 2 days.

In the Laser fleet Inigo Collins would stretch his lead over Kier Bibby to take the Laser title.

This marks the first event for the Royal BVI Yacht Club, as well as the kick off to their 2008/2009 junior sailing and junior race season.  Program starts this week with after school sailing Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 3:30 - 5:30 pm. All sailors are welcome.

The next event will be Team BVI Tri-Outs on the weekend of Nov 22 and 23.  These are open to any sailor who wishes to compete for the British Virgin Islands Sailing Team (Team BVI) at national and international events over the 2008/2009 sailing season.

Any questions regarding either programme please call 494-3286 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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