Participants at the 2012 RBVIYC Back-to-School Regatta at Nanny Cay.

Photo Credit: Ed Childs

Participants at the 2012 RBVIYC Back-to-School Regatta at Nanny Cay.

Photo Credit: Ed Childs

Sam Morrell gave the Territory the best finish overall by placing second in Red Fleet at the Royal BVI Yacht Club's annual Back to School Regatta held last week at Nanny Cay. However, it was Paige Clark of St. John, USVI who claimed the top spot at the conclusion of the regatta.

Apart from Morrell, the BVI also fielded in the Green Fleet, Kyle Roose, Nathan Haycraft, George Dawson and Amalie Clark; while in the Championship Fleet, the Territory was represented by James Dawson, Jowan James, Sam Childs (3rd White Fleet), Jason Putley, Thad Lettsome (2nd White Fleet) and Rayen Duff (1st White Fleet).

According to Director of Sailing Development at Royal BVI Yacht Club, Brain Duff, the sailing conditions were rather unusual for the venue with light winds out of the south at 8-10 knots for most of Saturday.

He noted on Sunday, the winds blew from south east at 5-8 knots creating rather unusual, but still very competitive sailing for all the kids from St Thomas, St. John and Tortola.

"The race committee chose to run Triangle/Windward-Leeward Courses and both the Green beginner Fleet and the Championship Fleets of the Optimist Class were on the same racing course, giving the Green Fleet kids a chance to watch their more experienced friends on starts and strategy; while the Red/Blue/White Fleet kids enjoyed the challenge of occasional Green Fleet crowds at the marks. All in all the races went off," Duff said.

Duff thanked his wife Kim, Tyler Dawson, Julia Lamberth, Lis, Sue, Claire, Chris Haycraft, Steve Roose, Miles and Nanny Cay Marina for allowing the club to run the event.