SIMPSON BAY—At least thirty young Caribbean sailors are expected to compete in the 12th Annual Sol St. Maarten Optimist Championship November 12 to 13 in Simpson Bay.
This is an international sailing event sponsored by Sol St. Maarten and hosted by the St. Maarten Yacht Club, featuring both male and female sailors ages 7 to 15 competing in the one-design Optimist class sailing dinghies. It remains the second largest sailing event held on St. Maarten after the Heineken Regatta and is a Qualifier regatta for the Opti World Championships which will be held in Thailand next year, July 11 to 21.
The Sol championship will feature sailors from five Caribbean islands. Already entered include five from St. Maarten, seven from Curacao, three from Antigua, ten from St. Barths, and five from Anguilla.
The regatta will be divided into two classes, by age or ability, to be determined by Race Officer Paul Miller of RegattaGuru at the time of registration on Friday. Trophies will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each class, as well as a Sportsmanship Trophy and “Top Girl” Trophy in each class. A “GO PRO Hero” will also be awarded to the first place finisher overall, sponsored by the Scuba Shop.
“Sol is pleased to continue its support of The Sol St. Maarten Optimist Championship international sailing event. Marine activity is an integral part of everyday life in the region and we are happy to be able to facilitate the transfer of life skills obtained through sport,” said David Antrobus, General Manager for Sol’s operations in St. Maarten. “We look forward to another successful year and are pleased to support the Optimist sailors as the official fuel partner.”
Spectators can watch the young sailors rigging up for the event on Saturday and Sunday morning starting at 8:00 am at the St. Maarten Yacht Club dock by the bridge. Racing will take place off Simpson Bay Beach.
