SVG Junior Sailing Week 2025: A Spectacular Celebration of Youth, Sportsmanship and Island Spirit

Vincy Sailing Week Youth Regatta © SVG Sailing

When Minister Carlos James called on the SVG Sailing Association to help deliver SVG Junior Sailing Week 2025, the response was clear, and the results were outstanding.

The week-long event kicked off in style on Sunday, April 13th in Calliaqua Bay, with the Vincy Sailing Club hosting an action-packed opening regatta. Over 20 boats and 25 young sailors from St. Vincent and Bequia competed in five thrilling races, expertly managed by the Vincy Sailing Race Management Team. Jankie Glass hosted a vibrant prize-giving ceremony at Coconut Grove Beach Club.

On Tuesday, 15th, the sailors set their sights on Mayreau for the second day of competition. The Mayreau Junior Sailing Club rolled out the red carpet, delivering a day filled with exhilarating races and fun-focused events, including the crowd-favourite capsize race. With over 40 young sailors participating, the biggest event of the week, it was a perfect showcase of enthusiasm, energy, and community spirit.

Older sailors took on a more challenging round-the-island race, skillfully navigating the reefs on the island's Windward side—an impressive display of seamanship. Huge thanks to John Forde, Stephon Forde, Norfrick Baptiste, Nancy and Lorne Saul Demers, for their incredible hospitality and support.

Next stop: Canouan, Wednesday 16th April, for the third Junior Regatta. Hosted by Albert Olivierre at Coconut Bar and Grill, the junior regatta was packed with fast-paced racing in the stunning waters of Charlestown Bay. Participants from across Canouan, Mayreau, St. Vincent, and Bequia came together, swapping boats and skills—sailing everything from Sunfish to FJs, a change from their usual Optimist dinghies.

The islands of Mayreau and Canouan are still recovering from Hurricane Beryl, so it was tremendous to see both communities going out of their way to support their young sailors.

The grand finale took place on the Easter weekend in Bequia, with boats and sailors arriving by ferry and catamaran for a two-day regatta on Saturday and Sunday. Over 30 young sailors competed in 11 fiercely contested races, showing exceptional skill and sportsmanship. Under the guidance of Thor Magnus Lee and the Vincy Sailing race management team—Sabrina Marks Dasent, Alex Punnett, and Fedel Mansour—every race was run with precision and passion.

Magnus Lee of Blue Life Yacht Charters Bequia, who used one of his catamarans to transport the sailors and equipment throughout the islands, said "It is an honor to be a part of the Junior Sailing Week and see so many young, up and coming sailors here in SVG. It has been a week filled with excitement, joy and a lot of sailing. Seeing the commitment and the enthusiasm in their eyes is why I am engaged with this".

"It's impossible to thank everyone by name", said Jenny Trumble, President of the SVG Sailing Association, "but the Sailing Association is deeply grateful for the warmth, generosity, and tireless efforts of the entire sailing community. From volunteers to venue hosts, from parents to coaches and the schools who allowed the sailors time away from their studies. The spirit of sailing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has never been stronger".

SVG Junior Sailing Week 2025 has not only celebrated competition and camaraderie—it's shown that the future of sailing in SVG is bright.

Vincy Sailing was awarded the Silver Level Clean Regatta certification by the international organisation Sailors Of The Sea, for the SVG Sailing Week Juniors Regatta. The Clean regatta's manager Alexandria Paolino Punnet said:

"We're incredibly proud to have earned a Silver Level Certification, for our environmental efforts whilst hosting the Juniors Regattas at the inaugural Vincy Sailing Week on April 13, 2025. This means achieving approximately 60% of the 20 Clean Regattas Best Practices in the toolkit.

"This achievement marks a significant step forward since we officially became Sailors for the Sea, joining the global Clean Regattas program in December 2024—earning a Bronze at our annual Vincy Sailing Christmas Party.

"Our commitment goes beyond events we host. At the Bequia Easter Regatta, we brought our Water Refill Station, cutting down single-use plastics during the SVG Sailing Week finale.

"Clean Regattas are about legacy—raising awareness and inspiring action. We aim to leave every sailor, volunteer, and spectator motivated to carry these practices forward in their own clubs and communities.

"Together, let's sail toward a cleaner, greener future"

Vincy Sailing Week Results:

St Vincent Regatta, 13th April

ILCA 6
1. Kai Marks-Dasent, St Vincent
2. Logan Banfield, St Vincent
3. Zachary McLawrence, St Vincent

ILCA 4
1. Joshua Weinhardt, St Vincent
2. Joseph Hadley, St Vincent
3. Tegan Deane, St Vincent

O'pen Skiff
1. Lily Punnett
2. Princess Ashton
3. Ira Hadley

Topaz
1. River Punnett, Milla Ryder, St Vincent and New Zealand
2. Isaiah Blackett, Ravin Hadley, Solomia Kerechanyn, St Vincent
3. Sky Cato, Mya Gun Munro, St Vincent

Optimist
1. Conroy Harris, Bequia
2. Drake Gooding, Bequia
3. Kelvin Harris, Bequia

Mayreau Regatta, 15th April

Optimist
1. Kai Dasent-Marks, St Vincent
2. Joshua Weinhardt, St Vincent
3. Drake Gooding, Bequia

Round-the-island race
1. Kai Marks Dasent, Joshua Osborne, Joshua Weinhardt, St. Vincent
2. Stephon Forde, Kenny Jr. Forde, Jeremiah Forde, Mayreau
3. Norfrick Baptiste, Samarah Forde, Mayreau

Canouan Regatta, 16th April

Optimist
1. Antoine Snagg, Canouan
2. Stephon Jacobs, Canouan

Sunfish
1. Kenny Forde, Conroy Harris (Mayreau, Bequia)
2. Azeem Forde, Crisbane Snagg (Mayreau, Canouan)

FJ
1. Stefon Forde, JJ Forde, Kelvin Harris, Jeremy (Mayreau, Bequia)
2. Kai Marks-Dasent, Joshua Weinhardt, Kemi Bynoe, Kimiah T BHhomas (St Vincent, Bequia, Mayreau)

Bequia Regatta, 19th & 20th April

ILCA 6
1. Kai Marks-Dasent, St Vincent
2. Logan Banfield, St Vincent
3. Zach McLawrence, St Vincent

O'pen Skiff
1. Benjamin Cyrus, St Vincent
2. Ira Hadley, St Vincent
3. Lily Punnet, St Vincent

Opti
1. Kemi Bynoe, Bequia
2. Joshua Weinhardt, St Vincent
3. Kelvin Harris, Bequia

FJ
1. Norfrick Baptiste, Samarah Forde, Mayreau
2. Azeem Forde, Jeremiah Forde, Mayreau

Sunfish
1. Kenny Jr. Forde, Mayreau
2. Mahendra Williams, Jammal Forde, Mayreau

Topper 1. Deo Tanis, Bequia