Club Nautico de San Juan International Regatta

Strong wind challenge in Puerto Rico

Gusts blowing 20-plus-knots and rolling seas created challenging yet exhilarating conditions for sailors from five islands that competed in the 13th Club Nautico de San Juan International Regatta (CNSJIR), held January 31-February 2, out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

"We are very happy with the success of this year’s regatta," explains Luis Fabre, chairman of the CNSJIR organizing committee. "We have the perfect venue here at Club Nautico de San Juan both onshore and offshore."

The largest class was the Optimist Advanced with 13 boats. Antigua’s Daniel Smit, who finished first in this regatta last year in the Optimist Green Fleet, won the overall this year as well as the 11- to 12-year old Blue Fleet.

"We’ve been practicing in heavy winds back home in Antigua these last few weeks. That really helped a lot in this regatta," Smit tells. "In one race I was pretty far ahead, so that was cool."

Anguilla’s Huekeemi Hughes won the 13- to 15-year-old Optimist Red Fleet, while Puerto Rico’s Jose Mendez scored a win in the age 10- and under Optimist White Fleet. This year’s Optimist Green fleet leader was Puerto Rico’s Marc Thys.

Full results are available here

The 14th CNSJIR will be held February 6-8, 2015.