ANTIGUA YACHT CLUB

The Antigua Yacht Club is delighted to be able to send a youth team to the Chief Minister’s Cup International Youth Regatta to be held in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands on July 8 – 10, 2011.  The Regatta will be hosted by The Kids and the Sea (KATS) Organization, The Rotary Club, the Chief Minister and the people of the British Virgin Islands and participation is by invitation only.

The team will be made up of six youths who were chosen from a group of ten individuals who tried out for the team.  The team has been practising at Antigua Yacht Club on a regular basis over the past couple of months in preparation for the regatta.  The six youths who made the team include Aldrick Meade (15) (Skipper), Rhone Kirby (13), Jules Mitchell (12), Janield Smith (16), Stephon Troy Dundas (18) and Keane Van Rensburg (14).  Shawn Malone, who himself is a success story of Antigua Yacht Club’s youth sailing program, has been coaching the youngsters and will do so at the regatta in Tortola.

This exciting opportunity is made possible largely as a result of the donation of a 1720 Cork keelboat by Mr. Richard Matthews, the former owner of UK boat builder Oyster Marine) who has been visiting and racing in Antigua for many years.  Mr. Matthews has been a regular supporter of youth sailing in Antigua for which the Antigua Yacht Club and the National Sailing Academy are very grateful.

As a result of Mr. Matthews’ donation, this group of youngsters has had a suitable boat available in which to practise their skills over the past couple of months in preparation for the Regatta.  And coach Shawn has plenty of experience on the boat as he raced it frequently in the past, prior to it being donated by Mr. Matthews, when it was known first as 'Shaggy' and then as 'Likkle Hugo'.

The practice and hard work of the team led by Shawn are sure to pay off and we wish them all the best in this exciting event!

Go Team Antigua!

Below is the Notice of Race for more complete information: