The Barbados Sailing Association (BSA) concluded its 2023 season with the SigniaGlobe Financial National Dinghy Championship at the Barbados Yacht Club on Sunday.
In the ILCA 6 class, Jason Tindale secured the top spot, followed by Holley Trew in second place, with Joseph Whelan and Jacob Binnema finishing third and fourth, respectively.
Savannah Stuart led the ILCA 4 category, with Daniel McCollin, Jasper Hope, Reign Wise, and Sam Whelan following closely.
In the Open Skiff class, Amabel Chase claimed first position, while Alexander McGaw, Nelson Hope, Leenah Nagdee, Liam Valles, and Kai Duncan filled the other top spots.
Asher McKenzie dominated the Taz class, taking the victory ahead of Jack Parker, Mohammed Nagdee, and Jamie Geere.
Following the presentation of prizes, BSA president Renata Goodridge expressed her satisfaction with the turnout and response to the championship, despite experiencing several false starts due to adverse weather conditions.
“There will be some dinghy racing starting with Barbados Sail Week, which is at the end of January 2024, and that’s hosted by the Barbados Cruising Club. But they also have a dinghy regatta, so the youth will be able to participate if they’re not racing on one of the big boats, which often some of them do as well,” Goodridge said.
She emphasised the BSA’s strong commitment to engaging youth in the sport, which has been steadily growing.
“I would say that we saw a dearth of sailors, especially during Covid and just before Covid we were in the trough when it came to youth sailing. And now it’s picking back up again and we’ve got a nice cohort, a really good mix of boys and girls of all ages from about nine up, that are enthusiastic about what they’re doing,” she added.
The BSA president thanked SigniaGlobe Financial for their support as the title sponsor of the 2023 National Dinghy Championships and noted their commitment to next year’s event.
Goodridge said the BSA’s primary objective was to nurture young sailors who can represent Barbados in various regional and international events, citing the island’s representatives at this year’s Caribbean Dinghy Championships in Martinique.
She further highlighted the importance of family involvement in the sport, as it instils self-confidence, decision-making skills, and independence.
Goodridge also highlighted the collaborative efforts of the BSA with the Barbados Yacht Club and the Barbados Cruising Club in sustaining the development of dinghy racing.
She underscored her association’s strong focus on involving schools in dinghy racing, although she acknowledged that this endeavour heavily relies on funding. rawletoney@barbadostoday.bb
