Women sailors in spotlight

(CNS): Cayman’s women sailors made a respectable showing recently finishing 6th in the Budget Marine Women’s Caribbean Keelboat Championships held in St Maarten over the weekend of 1st/2nd November 2008. In an exciting weekend of racing with 12 teams from around the Caribbean and the USA participating, the local St. Maarten team claimed victory.

The Cayman team of Jane Moon, Pam McDonough, Lindsey Macfee and Chantal Goevaerts however did a great job with one win and some high placings. The St. Maarten team had consistent results, finishing in the top two for almost all races. They had some good competition from Karen Portch and her Antigua Yacht Club team, Emma Paull from RBVI Yacht Club and Penny McIntyre from Barbados (all past winners of the event). While the Cayman team finished in 6th place overall they were positioned in the top four in most of the races and secured an impressive first place finish in Race 10.

The racing was based out of St Maarten Yacht Club and the course was set up in the Lagoon at Simpson Bay. A total of 14 races were sailed on a rotational basis, each team sailing 8 races in seven Lagoon Sailboat Rentals Sunfast 20 boats. Teams rotated boats after each race which gave those sitting out an opportunity to watch the racing. Races were windward leeward courses with an offset windward mark and a leeward gate. The Race Committee set a starting sequence of three minutes and race duration of 20 minutes which meant clean air starts were vital for the short, sharp races in the very shifty conditions.

The regatta, organized by the St Maarten Yacht Club and sponsored by Budget Marine, is a great effort towards the expansion of women’s sailing in the Caribbean region and competitors enjoyed fun and exciting racing and great camaraderie.