Fifteen junior sailors and three Optimist sailing dinghies traveled from San Pedro to Corozal on Saturday, October 13, 2012, where they trained, spent the night, and raced in a tense and exhausting regatta on Sunday, October 14. After that, the tired skippers took a nighttime boat ride home. The San Pedro Sailing participated and did exceptionally well at the Corozal Bay Regatta organized by the Corazal Bay Sailing Club.
The San Pedro Sailing Club joined Liberty Sailing Club, Placencia Sailing Club, Sea Scouts, Belize City and the Corozal Bay Sailing Club in a day of fun and challenging sailing. The regatta saw 22 Optimists, five Laser Picos and two safety boats partaking in the event in a course that was laid in standard International Optimist Trapezoid, modified slightly in anticipation of wind shift with the sea breeze. The one design classes registered were: Optimist, Laser/Pico Single, Laser/Pico Double, and Multi-hull.
It was a challenging regatta due to the lack of wind but nevertheless it was a great event in which the San Pedro Sailing Club had the opportunity to shine. Results for the Optimist Finals were: Gold – Rupert Garnett from Liberty Sailing Club; Silver – Carlos Villatoro from Placencia Sailing Club; Bronze – Davin Puc from San Pedro Sailing Club. (Faith Noel placed Fourth and Zulema Alaya Fifth – both also from San Pedro).
San Pedro Junior Sailing Team during practice sessions for Corozal Bay Regatta
A number of intrepid San Pedranos even chose to enter the Pico class races. Picos are sloops, larger than Optimists and have two sails. Junior sailors from San Pedro are only used to the one sail of the Optimist but were not afraid to take on the challenge. The young Sanpedrano teams who entered the Pico races had never or hardly ever sailed a Pico, let alone race one!
With competency that wowed everyone, the team of Faith Noel and Lily Hayden tacked smartly into the winning position in the first Pico race, with the team of Davin Puc and Mitchell Sersland following in second. Both junior teams beat an experienced grown-up, race official Andy Aspinall and his crew member. San Pedro Sailing Club duo teams of Jorge Oliveres & Jerdon Anderson and Kevin Velasquez & Christian Trejo also took first and second place, respectively, in the other Pico race.
Donations from a broad spectrum of the San Pedro community made it all possible for the San Pedro Sailing Club to participate at the Corozal Bay Regatta, so the sailors, their families, and the San Pedro Sailing Club wish to thank all of the following friends and neighbors:
First, the boat sponsors – Ambergris Lake Villas, Catamaran Beach Bar, Caribbean Villas, Palapa Bar, Palo Alto, Playa Blanca, and San Pedro Weather.com. Next a multitude of donors: ACES, Milo’s, Belize Dive Connection, Pedro’s Inn, Blue Water Grill, The Phoenix, Caliente, Portofino, Captain Morgan’s, Mary Pugh, Captain Sharks, Red Ginger, Casa Azul, Remax, Chocolate Thunder, Road Kill Bar, Captain Armando Gonzalez, Searious Adventures, crewman Hilly Boo, Sunbreeze Suites, Stacey Chesnick, Tattoos by Ken, Coco Beach, Tropic Air, Conch Creative, Victoria House, Deseo Advertising, Wahoo Lounge, Fido’s, Wild Mango’s, Grand Caribe, Charles Worthington, Robbie Gonzalez, Yoga with Tara. In Corozal thanks also to Rosita’s La Maya Hotel and to Henry Menzies of VIP Transfers.
First and Second place winners of the Optimist raceRupert Garnett of Liberty Sailing Club and Carlos Villatoro from Placencia Sailing Club
