The Bowen Island Yacht Club sent a record number of members to compete in the Commodore's Cup Regatta at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club last week as 16 sailors and three coaches took part in the August 28 to 30 races.
The regatta is designed for lower-mainland eight to16-year-olds who've participated in learn-to-sail programs over the summer and is the largest of its kind in Canada.
While many competitors have raced on the water before, for others it was their first taste. Each year, the event focuses on friendly competition and is a great learning experience, said BIYC member and parent Florrie Levine. Some Bowen kids managed to place top three in their category.
Island kids who competed were: Keona Wishart and Caelan Thomson in the single-handed laser; teams Perry Carroll and Samuel Holm, Derek Zandvliet and Kelk Jeffery, Robert Torok and Kye Jensen, Santana Rutherford and Bless Wiesshlaw and Ava Shaw and Jamie Shaw in the double-handed Laser 2; Mait Davis in the Optimist White; Max Paulus, Simon Revensky and Miranda Berry in the Optimist Green.
Bowen dominated in the double-handed Laser 2 category with Carroll and Holm in first, Torok and Jensen in second and Zandvliet and Jeffrey third. In that category, Rutherford and Wiesshlaw finished just behind Zandvliet and Jeffrey, giving the island the top four Laser 2 finishers.
Davis was second in his category while Keona Wishart was fourth in hers, only a point from third. Levine said variable winds and a strong currents presented the kids with challenges and all performed well and learnt a great deal. The coaches supporting the sailors were Claire Rawlinson, who had competed in the regatta when she was a child, Fineen Davis and Emily Hauner.
Others participating yacht clubs included West Vancouver Yacht Club, Eagle Harbour Yacht Club, Hollyburn Sailing Club, Burrard Yacht Club, Mac Sailing and the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club.
Last year, BIYC sent 11 participants.
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