Members of the Bay of Quinte Yacht Club (Photo: BQYC)
July 14-17 – The Bay of Quinte Yacht Club – BQYC youth sailors from the Sailing School’s Learn to Race program and the Youth Race Team entered two regattas. Sixteen competitors and families trekked the road to Port Credit Yacht Club Wednesday afternoon with six trailer loads of boats, spars, booms, masts and spare parts, along with two coach boats and one safety jet ski.
The Steerers’ Junior Regatta on the Thursday and Friday is considered a sailing school championship event with a strong training component followed immediately by the Four Sisters Regatta on the Saturday and Sunday; both are large, well organized traditional regatta events.
“The Learn to Race Program at BQYC is a new program implemented this summer with the aim to take our CANSail 3/4 students to the Steerers Regatta and offer more opportunities to the Quinte community’s youth”, said Dan Steinitz Fleet Captain Dinghy & Sail Training. “We are proud of our team of ten volunteers who work year-round to develop and manage the programs and ensure we have the boats and infrastructure to deliver high quality programs.”
“Competitors enter into two classes – the OPTIMIST (under 130lbs) or Laser over 130lbs) fleets. In OPTI Championship Fleet – children race according to age (Red 13-15. Blue 11-12, & White 10 and under) or in the case of the Learn to Race competitors in the Green Fleet (Beginner Fleet) where they gain regatta and racing experience, and the emphasis is on fun. For Laser fleets the weight of the child and experience dictate whether Radial or Standard”, explained Dr. Steinitz. “Our kids raced OPTI Red, Blue and Green and Laser Radial.”
The Optimist Team included Red Fleet – Dhalia Steinitz (13), Blue Fleet- Andreas Steinitz (12) and Green Fleet Learn to Race students: Amaya Escudero (11), Jailynn Forestell (10), Andrew Giacomuzzo (12), Kate Cruess (11), and Kate Wessel (11) – Coached by Argentinian Coach Federico Donzino.
The Laser Radial Team included BQYC Instructors Ava Guse (16) & Thor Render (16), along with Tess Friar (11), Callum Friar (14), Daniel Escudero (14), Veronica Hitchlock (14), Tristan Duncan (15), Matt Birchard (15) and Angelo Knappett (16) – Coached by Kyle Sudds.
RESULTS: BQYC accomplished four podium finishes in the two regattas
Steerers’ Junior Regatta – Optimist Blue Fleet – 1st Place -Andreas Steinitz;
Optimist Green Fleet – 3rd Place – Amaya Escudero
Optimist Overall – 1st Place – Andreas Steinitz
Four Sisters Regatta – Optimist Blue Fleet – 2nd Place – Andreas Steinitz
Optimist Green Fleet – 3rd Place – Andrew Giacomuzzo
