CURACAO--St. Maarten's Rhône Findlay will represent the Netherlands Antilles at both the North and South America Optimist Sailing Championships later this year.
Findlay earned the right sailing in the Curaçao Youth Optimist Championships this past weekend. Findlay competed in 11 one-hour long races in three days in less then ideal conditions. Waves two to 2.5 meters swamped many boats and winds ranging from up to 33 knots caused many of the young sailors to capsize.
"Rhône suffered some bad luck and was capsized by freak waves often, but righted himself and bailed out to continue without hesitation ending the regatta in ninth place," said Findlay's father who helped on the race safety boat so had a close up view.
Findlay finished the regatta in ninth place out of 15. He qualified as one of five to go to Uruguay in March and one of the nine to go to Canada in June to represent the Netherlands Antilles.
As the Optimist A division toughed it out in open seas, the younger sailors in the B and C category raced on the calmer more protected inner sections of Spanish Waters.
St. Maarten fielded two of its most promising youngsters in the B group. Representing the Friendly Island were 9-year-old Ilian Halbertsma and 7-year-old Nathan Smith.
Curacao's 11-year-old Camiel Voight won the B group which consisted of eight sailors. Halbertsma finished second and was followed by Smith in third place just two points behind.
