Reprinted from " St. Thomas Source"

SPAIN'S TORRENS WINS OPTIMIST REGATTA
by Carol Bareuther

©Dean Barnes

June 18, 2001 – Blustery winds blowing
10 to 15 knots, and greater, set the scene for
the first two days of racing at the Scotiabank
Caribbean International Optimist Regatta. On
day three, however, a low pressure system
moving through the area created challenging
conditions across windward-leeward and
triangular courses with winds barely puffing 6 to 8 knots.
But when it came down to the last of the ten races, 14-year-old Xavier Torrens from Spain sailed away with the overall win by a valiantly fought one point over defending champ and 12-year-old St. Thomas sailor, Cy Thompson. "He's been sailing since he was 6, he's used to light air and competitions where there are 80 or more boats," explained Francisco Gil, coach for the Spanish National Team, about the secret to Torrens success.
The ninth annual event, hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club June 14 to17, drew a record 81 7- to 15-year-old junior sailors from throughout the Caribbean, U.S. mainland and Europe. Jump the gun starts, bumper car mark roundings and by a nose finishes earmarked the weekend's sailing. Chuck Fuller, an IYRU International Judge from California, described the challenges of the day three sailing. "The lighter air is always more tricky for the kids to sail in. There's more tactics involved." Fuller has officiated over the event since its inception. The fluky winds were most difficult for the Green Fleet - beginning sailors age 15 years or younger, yet many of the more advanced Red (13-15 years), Blue (11-12 years) and White (10 years and younger) skippers literally breezed along to top positions in their class.
In the eldest Red Fleet, Spain's Torrens won the class as well as the coveted overall top spot. "This has been good training for him, since in five days we'll be heading to Spain's annual national sailing competition," Gil explained. Teammate Pedro Mari took second in this class, while Puerto Rico's Marco Teixidor took third. At last year's Optimist World Championships in La Coruña, Spain, Marco scored 27th out of 252 sailors competing. Rounding out fourth and fifth place, respectively, were Puerto Rican sailor Xavier Quinones from Ponce, and Ryan Costanzo, a star sailor in the St. John KATS program. "Ryan's really grown a lot in his sailing over the years," said St. John coach, Fletcher Pitts.
The Blue Fleet was the most highly competitive of all the classes, and composed of aspiring Green Fleet graduates and juniors that know that they still have at least three more years to perfect sailing an 8-foot Optimist dinghy before they "age-out". Consistent scores ranging from second to fourth place put Cy Thompson, a 7-year-veteran of this event, in the lead.
Puerto Rico's Carlos Teixdor, Marco's cousin, placed second, while St. Thomas' Taylor Canfield astutely drove his way to third. Showing stronger team talent from Puerto Rico, Adrian Hernandez scored fourth. Tomas Hornos, representing the Hyannis Yacht Club, ended fifth in class. The White Fleet was bested by Victor Diaz Deleon from Venezuela, a country that has been sending sailors to this competition for over five years. Trinidad's Aaron Barcant finished second. "Our program sails out of Chaguaramas," described Colin Barcant, Aaron's father and a key parent in the Trinidad & Tobago Yachting Association program. "But we hope to expand it to other areas of the island and grow." Representing Martinique, Nicholas Rendu placed third, while Puerto Rico's Christian Fleming ended fourth and St. Thomas' Stephen Hebert in fifth.
David Alfonso, from Puerto Rico, led the beginner Green Fleet and showed the skill required to move up into one of the more competitive classes next year. Philipine Van Aanholt, finished second. "I've been sailing since I was six," Van Aanholt said. "I first learned sailing a Sunfish with my father." Van Aanholt's father, Cor, was the 1980 Sunfish World Champion and represented the Netherlands at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney. "I'm more of a teacher now," Cor added, as he leaned down to give his daughter more pointers. St. Thomas Tyler Rice finished third in class and hopes to boost his sailing skills even further this summer. "My dad's taking me to the Nationals in August," Tyler told. First time competitor and St. Thomas sailor, James John, ended fourth, while Edgar Sleeart-Carrie from St. Maarten rounded out fifth in class. "This regatta just keeps getting bigger and better," said IYRU judge, Ives.
"The caliber of the kids is impressive, both in their sailing skills and knowledge of the rules of sailing. And," Ives adds, "I have to give the parents credit too. The Little League mentality hasn't hit sailing yet - having fun is still the main goal."

Over All Results
Blue Fleet Results
Green Fleet Results
Red Fleet Results
White Fleet Results