Sept. 1, 2003 – Light air didn't get in the way of a good time for the youths and adults from St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John, Tortola and Antigua taking part in the weekend KATS Sailing Festival 2003.
Organized by the Coral Bay Kids and the Sea program and held in Coral Bay Harbor, the event started on Saturday and concluded on Monday. There was team competition on Saturday and Sunday, and individual class racing on Monday.
When the sails came down on Monday, the St. Croix team went home with the KATS cup as well as $200 toward entry fees for the 2004 Caribbean Dinghy Championships to be held on Tortola.
Although the festival competition was billed as a training event, awards were given in numerous classes.
"I had lots of practice," Hugo Roller III said in explaining what helped him to victory.
Roller, a 13-year-old St. John resident, finished first in the Optimist Red Fleet for sailors 13 to 15 years old in Monday's multiclass racing.
Richard Baranowski, 15, won the Sunfish single class on Monday. "I got a good start, covered the fleet and played the shifts," the St. John youth said afterward.
Karl James, 37, a two-time Olympian from Antigua raced as well as helped coach the youngsters. Since the St. John KATS program regularly participates in regattas around the Caribbean, he said, it was only fair that he help out with this one.
The organizers gave a sportsmanship award to Tristam MacDonald for his work in maintaining the boats used in the regatta.
Robin Clair Pitts said that the event could not have happened without the many volunteers who did all sorts of jobs. She and her husband, Fletcher Pitts, are the chief organizers for the KATS program and the regatta.
St. John resident Hugo Roller II, whose son and daughter participated in the event, said he was glad to see his children have the opportunity to learn how to sail. "It encourages them to make their own decisions," he said.
This was the first year for the three-day festival, which combined two Coral Bay KATS sailing events that have been held at different times of year in the past — the team racing traditionally held in March and the multiclass competition held on Labor Day weekend.
Results, top 3 finishers
Team Racing
Lasers
1. Brett Clark, Addison Caproni, Thomas Barrows (St. Thomas).
2. Chris Stanton, Joseph Noel, Peter Stanton (St. Croix).
3. Angelo Raimondi, Sean Costanzo, Ryan Costanzo (St. John).
Optimists
1. Hugo Roller III, J'Moi Powell, Mimi Roller (St. John).
2. Jae Tonachel, Morgan Bryan, Billy Gibbons (St. Croix).
3. Stephan Hebert, Olin Davis (St. Thomas).
Multiclass
KATS Cup Team
1. Peter Stanton, Joseph Noel, Morgan Bryan, Jae Tonachel, Billy Gibbons (St. Croix).
2. Revel Boulon, Sean Costanzo, Tristam MacDonald, Mimi Roller (St. John).
3. Brett Clarke, Ryan Bareuther, Olin Davis, Tyler Rice, Luke Davis (St. Thomas).
Fleet racing
Laser Standard
1. Karl James (Antigua).
2. Thomas Barrows (St. Thomas).
3. Chris Curreri (St. Thomas).
Laser Radial
1. Peter Stanton (St. Croix).
2. Angelo Raimondi (St. John).
3. Caroline Burks (St. John).
Sunfish Singles
1. Richard Baranowski (St. John).
2. Beth Tonachel (St. Croix).
3. Fara Westerman (St. Croix).
Sunfish Doubles
1. Joseph Noel and Morgan Bryan (St. Croix).
2. Ryan Bareuther and Olin Davis (St. Thomas).
3. Zach Trahan and Lonie Tarr (St. John).
Optimist Red
1. Hugo Roller III (St. John).
2. Max Nickbarge (St. Thomas).
(no third-place finisher)
Optimist Blue
1. Jae Tonachel (St. Croix).
2. Mimi Roller (St. John).
3. Tyler Rice (St. Thomas).
Optimist White
1. Ian Barrows (St. Thomas).
2. William Bailey (St. Thomas).
(no third-place finisher)
Optimist Green
1. Billy Gibbons (St. Croix).
2. Christopher Brockbank (Tortola).
3. J'Moi Powell (St. John).
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