Just two weeks after its inception the San Pedro Sailing Club held its first race on Sunday, July 11. At ten in the morning eight sailors in four hobie cats set off from the Catamaran Bar (beach front of Caribbean Villas) to the Palapa Bar and back.
The strong breeze ensured a short race and the competitors were back to the finish line just after an hour from starting. The results were as follows:
1st – James and Jex Pearce
2nd – Bradley and Susan
3rd – Forrest Jones and Alice Corrigan
4th – Graham and David Verralls
The San Pedro Sailing Club is a “NOT for profit” club and is run solely by volunteers. The club has two key objectives: a) to organize and facilitate racing and social sailing events for ANYBODY who wishes to participate and b) promote the sport of sailing in the community, paying particular attention to making it accessible to our local schools.
“When we retired to the island two months ago we were astonished to find that in probably the best sailing waters in the world, and certainly the most idyllic, there was no sailing club,” commented Mr. Andrew Milner to Ambergris Today.
“Two weeks ago we set up a Facebook page to drum up some interest and the San Pedro Sailing Club was born.
Within a few days Graham and Ruth Verralls from Caribbean Villas kindly offered us the free use of the Catamaran Bar as well as the use of their pier for a starting line. A big thank you to Graham and Ruth.”
Sailsports Belize was also instrumental in kindly offering the club free use of two hobie waves crafts and also laying course markers. Many people turned up to cheer on the racers and were able to watch the start from the end of the pier. Everyone had a great day.
Whether permitting the San Pedro Sailing club will be holding a race every Sunday with a briefing and sign-in at 9am for a race start at 10 am. Everybody – sailors and spectators, are all welcome to join in the fun.
“We are hoping that this will continue throughout the year and anyone and everyone is invited to be a part of this wonderful opportunity to sail the seas,” said Mr. Milner.
In the future the San Pedro Sailing Club would like to engage with the local schools and encourage any budding young sailors that may be out there. As there is a shortage of suitable boats, various plans are being considered that could envisage groups of students being taught how to build a small dingy which they would ultimately learn to sail and even race. To help achieve this goal the Sailing Club is looking for any help that may be forthcoming from the community.
For more information please lookup the sailing club on Facebook under “San Pedro Sailing Club” that will have regular updates and pictures or contact Andy at 632-4101 for more information.
