News AXEL SLY WINS 2009 SCOTIABANK REGATTA

AXEL SLY WINS 2009 SCOTIABANK REGATTA

Good starts and consistent scores did the trick for fifteen-year-old Axel Sly, from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, who won the 17th annual Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta, held out of the St. Thomas Yacht Club, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 19 to 21.

St Thomas, USVI

Good starts and consistent scores did the trick for fifteen-year-old Axel Sly, from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, who won the 17th annual Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta, held out of the St. Thomas Yacht Club, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 19 to 21.

It proved an exciting finish when the top place competitor going into the last race, fellow USA sailor Christopher Williford, started that race too early and lost valuable time on the required restart, while Sly sailed fast to make it his third race win of the regatta. Sly's finish also earned him a first place finish in the 13- to 15-year-old Red Fleet.

In the Blue Fleet, it was Arthur Fortune from Guadeloupe who took the top place prize.

Trinidad's Abigail Affoo bested the White Fleet and Juan Diego Vargas took first among the beginners. Juan Diego also won the Sportsmanship Award for coming to the aid of a capsized fellow Green Fleeter and helping her right her boat.

Top three in the overall ranking:

  1. Alex Sly, USA (42)
  2. Arthur Fortune, Guadeloupe - FRA (45)
  3. Christopher Williford, USA (49)

See the ranking here and visit the St Thomas Yacht Club website for more information and photos.