Belize Sailing Association National Championships

11 year old Trent Hardwick is the New National Champ in Youth Sailing – Belize City. Jan. 6, 2014 – Trent Hardwick of the Belize Sea Scouts (BSS) emerges as Belize Sailing Association’s National Champion in the Optimist Class after 2 days of tough sailing over the weekend. With variable weather that saw mostly north westerly winds between 15 and 3 knots in front Birds’s Isle, sailors used mostly light wind techniques and risky strategies. The smaller sailors had an obvious advantage but experienced sailors still topped the races with better technique.

Here are the other top finishers: Antonio Ricardez, Jr. of the Belize City Sailing Club (BCSC) took 2nd place, silver and Christopher Young of Corozal Bay Sailing Club (CBSC) took the 3rd place bronze. The other Top 10 finishers were: 4th, Nashira Ricardez of BCSC; 5th, Isaac Ritchie of Placencia Sailing Club (PSC); 6th,Tyler Garbutt of PSC; 7th, Carlos Villatoro of PSC; 8th, Wilson Rivera of PSC; 9th, Jazmin Campos of CBSC, and 10th, Carla Lopez of PSC.

Bird’s Isle Regatta trophies were also presented by Henry Young Jr. of Bird’s Isle Restaurant that provided the seafront venue for the regatta. The top sailors of the regatta were Jerdon Anderson of San Pedro Junior Sailing Club (SPJSC) who received the prize for the 1st male and Blanca Velasquez received the trophy – for being 1st Female. Prizes were also given to the top three Optimist sailors of the Year for their overall scores in six national ranking regattas in 2013. Antonio Ricardez, Jr. of BCSC, Carlos Villatoro of PSC and Trent Hardwick received 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies, respectively. Nashira Ricardez took the trophy for the top Female sailor of the year.

Avid sailor and contributor of the perpetual national championship trophy, Denys Bradley, commented that he has never seen this many boats in the habor sailing for the 60 years that he has been involved with sailing and that the sight was encouraging to see. Minister of State in the Ministry of Sports, Hon. Herman Longsworth, presented the prizes and trophies to the winners and encouraged BzSA, clubs and family members to continue doing the work that is hard needed for Belize young people. Newly elected Chair of BzSA Board of Directors, Shelley Bradley, also commented that it has been rewarding to see the development and growing successes of the clubs and sailors at this national event. She encouraged the children to keep challenging themselves and to have fun.

The next regatta is scheduled for the weekend of February 8, 2014 to be hosted by the Corozal Bay Sailing Club. For more information contact the Belize Sailing Association at belizesailingassociation@gmail.com or visit their Facebook Page Here.