Jan. 13, 2002 – Getting out ahead and staying out ahead was the secret to success for winners in the Martin Luther King Day Regatta hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club Saturday and Sunday.
With keen competition on his heels from Puerto Rico's Marcos and Carlos Teixidor, St. Thomas sailor Cy Thompson handily won most starts in the 10-race event and scored six bullets to win the overall title in the 22-boat Optimist fleet. "I really like the competition with Marcos and Carlos, but I'm looking at moving up to Lasers soon," Thompson said.
In the 10-boat laser fleet, the astute strategy of St. John's Ian Beam at the start paid off in what proved to be close competition with St. Thomas's Paul Stoeken and Thomas Barrows. "The port end was favored," Ian said, "but instead of riding it to the end and having Paul and Thomas overtake me, I pretty much stayed in the middle, took the lead and just stretched it."
Maintaining her lead in a highly competitive class, St. John's Sarah Burks won the beginner Green Optimist race by applying a strategy she learned during a Christmastime clinic with Luis Chiapparro, Uruguay's national Optimist, Laser and Snipe coach. "I kept heading up and tried not to reach too much. Luis said when you reach too much, the whole pack can get you," Burks explained.
In the age 10-and under Optimist White fleet, St. Thomas's Tyler Rice was the lone competitor. While this meant Tyler had first place in his pocket before he even left the beach, testament to the young man's superb skills was readily apparent in his 7th place finish overall in the Optimist fleet.
Also in Optimists, St. Thomas's Taylor Canfield deftly won the Blue Fleet for ages 11 and 12, while Thompson dominated the Red Fleet for ages 13-15.
Blustery winds and a rolling swell made the sailing in Cowpet Bay challenging as the junior sailors aboard Optimist dinghies sailed windward-leeward courses, and the mix of teens and adults on Lasers competed on a quadrangle course.
Two women braved the conditions and male dominated Laser fleet, with St. John's Callie Burks taking first place female in the fleet, with St. Thomas's Christine Thompson in second.
This was the sixth year for the regatta, and the progress of sailors over the years from beginning Optimist to skilled Laser competitors was apparent. "I got my start in Optimists, but I'm really into Lasers now," said Ian, who learned just before Christmas that he has been accepted at Tufts University for the fall. "I really wanted to go to Tufts because of their top-ranked sailing team," he said, "but I'll be majoring in math and economics with the thought of becoming an electrical engineer. Sailing is important, but I know I need to get my degree."
Results
RED:
1. Cy Thompson, STYC
2. Marco Teixidor, CNPR
3. Carlos Teixidor, CNPR
BLUE:
1. Taylor Canfield, STYC
2. Stephan Hebert, STYC
3. David Alfonso, CNPR
4. James John, STYC
5. Rian Bareuther, STYC
6. Zachary Trahan, St. John KATS
WHITE:
1. Tyler Rice, STYC
GREEN:
1. Sarah Burks, St. John KATS
2. Hugo Roller, St. John KATS
3. Olin Davis, STYC
4. William Bailey, STYC
5. Cameron Probyn, STYC
6. Jason Dane, St. John KATS
7. Nathan Greger, St. John KATS
8. Mayumi Roller, St. John KATS
9. Kai Jen, St. John KATS
10. Johnny Lenahan, STYC
11. Sky Dane, St. John KATS
12. Joey Gustferro, St. John KATS
13. Eric Dohm, STYC
LASER:
1. Ian Beam, St. John KATS
2. Paul Stoeken, STYC
3. Thomas Barrows, STYC
4. Sergio Villanueva, CNPR
5. Angelo Ramondi, St. John KATS
6. Sean Costanzo, St. John KATS
7. Addison Caproni, STYC
8. Ryan Costanzo, St. John KATS
9. Callie Burks, St. John KATS
10. James Woods, STYC
11. Christine Thompson, STYC
