The Eleutheran - Eleuthera News, Sport and much more from Eleuthera: Governor's Harbour sailors compete in Nassau

Governor's Harbour sailors compete in Nassau
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admin on 23 June, 2008 
 
Patrick Similien and Ashton Johnson, members of the Govenor's Harbour Sailing
Club, competed in the National Sunfish Championship held in Montague Bay,
Nassau  on June 21 and 22.   The first of the two races on Saturday morning
was two miles in length, with 12 knot winds and prepared Similien and Johnson
for the two longer races in the afternoon with slightly stronger winds. 
There were close to thirty boats in the race and most of the competitors had
sailed in national and international competition many times before.  There were
four other junior sailors, all from Nassau, who had been sailing for five
years.  At the end of the first days racing Similien placed 26th overall and
Johnson was placed 24th.
The second day, Sunday, the wind was a bit stronger, and only one other junior
sailor competed.  Our two boys from Eleuthera, did not get a very good start in
the first race, but completed the challenging three mile course.  The second
race they got a much better start, but their thirty year old patched up boats
had taken on a lot of water making them too heavy to keep up with the much
newer, faster boats.  Johnson was forced to retire, but Similien carried on
bravely and would have finished the course but for a vicious thunder squall.
The Nassau Yacht Club awarded trophies in the afternoon with first place to
Donnie Martinborough, second place to Jimmie Lowe, and third place to George
Damianos. Lori Lowes was the Ladies winner. Top Junior was Michael Gibson
Johnson and Similien were commended by the race committee, and most of the adult
competitors, for their skill and determination. Each was awarded Nassau Yacht
Club tee shirts at the ceremony.