KATS Chief Ministers Regatta

The 8th Annual KATS Chief Ministers Regatta was held July 7th – 9th on Tortola, BVI, at Nanny Cay Marina. Friday was an arrival day for the competitors where they were given the opportunity to practice up against the IC 24 racing fleet in the late afternoon.

Eight teams made up the field coming from all over the Caribbean. The venue at Nanny Cay was ideal for the regatta, with camping tents set up on the lawn next to the pool and docks for all the junior sailors to spend the weekend along side each other meshing new and old friends together from previous regattas.

The racing started Saturday morning and went to lunchtime where the Rotary Clubs of Tortola fed the teams. The timing was perfect, as a severe squall passed over minutes after the sailors raced back to the dock. A rotation of boats was made for the second part of the day's racing, making the playing field as fair as possible, even though the IC 24 sloops are a strict one-design class. The team from St. Thomas dominated the day by winning most of the races, showing great teamwork and obvious determination to take the Cup back to the U.S.V.I. once again. The newest team to the Cup Regatta was from Puerto Rico who gave the "Tomians" a run for their money.

Sunday brought perfect conditions with winds blowing 15-18 knots with a steep chop making the sailing downwind exhilarating. The Regatta format changed slightly from Saturday with the sailors racing past the lunch break to get in enough races prior to a team having to leave early to make a flight home.

Honorable Dr. D. Orlando Smith presents
the Chief Ministers Cup to St. Thomas

At the end of the day, St. Thomas managed to hang onto their lead even after being disqualified in one of the races for being over the starting line early. Taking second place and showing the most promise for next year's regatta was Team Puerto Rico, followed by the ever challenging Team Antigua, St. Croix, Team Yellow Tortola, Team Green Tortola, Anguilla, and then Team Bequia.

Hat's off to all of the volunteers, Nanny Cay Marina, Peg Legs Landing, Rotary Clubs of Tortola, and all of the sponsors that made the regatta possible.

KATS Presented Sportsmanship Award
For International Rolex Regatta

Having sailed very well against 19 of the best sailors in the highly competitive IC 24 class in the 2006 International Rolex Regatta at St. Thomas U.S.V.I the weekend of March 24 through the 26th, the team returned back to their home in the BVI's directly after the finish of the final race Sunday. The team had a deadline to meet on the return to the BVI's having to tow the race boat, support boat, with the  "mother ship" Yacht Tarawana back to the sailing base in Sopers Hole, Tortola before sundown to avoid the many reefs between St. Thomas and the British Virgin Islands.
 
Having reached home, the team, coach, and sailing director, all had a great feeling of accomplishment over the weekend. It wasn't until the following day that the coach and director learned that the team was applauded in their absence by all of the racers at the awards presentation at St. Thomas. Learning of the situation, the yacht club was contacted, and the founder of the KATS program Mr. Tom Gerker took it upon himself to fly to St.Thomas to collect the "perpetual" trophy, which in strict yachting tradition never leaves the holding club.
 
St. Thomas Yacht Club was gracious enough to part with the trophy so it could be presented to Team Tortola, at the BVI Spring Regatta opening ceremonies tonight. The BVI Spring Regatta is one of the premier regattas in the Caribbean, which draws sailors from all parts of the world, hosted by the Royal British Virgin Islands Yacht Club.
 
Team Tortola sailors had no idea that they were picked by the judges of the event over 93 other competing yachts in the Rolex until tonight when they were hailed to the stage and were presented the Sportsmanship Award by the original donor of the trophy, Mr. Richard Woolridge, who is also the builder of the IC 24 class yachts, and makes Tortola his home.
 
The KATS program would like to thank both yacht clubs for their support, and all of the other volunteers and donators to the program, to allow the opportunity for the young boys and girls of the BVI's to learn about the sea and ultimately race in world class regattas.

International Rolex Regatta
Sportsmanship Trophy

KATS compete in International Rolex Regatta
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

The 2006 International Rolex Regatta, hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club in the U.S.V.I. had one of the clubs highest attendances in recent years. Racing conditions were ideal for all classes that ranged from 80' racing yachts to the ever-exciting beach cat fleet.

The IC 24 class had 19 entries, the largest number of boats that the class has ever had. Competitors from Europe, United States, Puerto Rico, St. Marteen, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands made up the highly competitive fleet.

Going into the final day of racing, the first place winning boat could have been any of the top four boats. Sailing in light winds tested the skills of the fleet, with Robbie Hirst and his crew dominating the final day and taking home to the BVI's, a Rolex Watch awarded to the winners of each class.

Entered in the International Rolex Regatta was Team Tortola, of the British Virgin Islands, sailed by seven of the KATS Sailing program kids, ranging from age 12 to 16, based at the West End of Tortola. The crew was up against some of the best sailors in the world and came in a very respectable 16th place, excellent, considering the level of talent that was on the course for the three days of intense racing.

As a volunteer and sailing instructor for the KATS Sailing program for many years in the BVI's, I was lucky enough to spend the four days with the kids during the regatta and watch them improve with every race. In the past 46 years of racing yachts, I have never seen a group of kids sail and conduct themselves both on and off the water, as true Yachtsmen, as they did.

Because of the timing to organize our return trip back to the BVI's, we could not attend the awards presentation, but this morning I was told by one of our fellow BVI competitors that the kids, sailing their IC 24, "CCT Boatphone KATS", had won the Sportsmanship award, which included all classes that had sailed in the Rolex Regatta.

In all my years of sailboat racing, I have found that the Sportsmanship Award is the most prestigious award in yachting, even above winning a regatta in the overall standings.

The Crew of CCT Boatphone KATS

Javan Cooper: 16 years old, is now into his 6th year in KATS Sailing. He is team Captain and has sailed in several Chief Ministers Cups, as well as local Regattas. He was at the helm during Rolex and had some good results in several races against some very serious competition in what is probably the toughest fleet, the IC 24s.

Jamie Bibby: 16 years old, has also been a KATS sail member for over 5 years. Jamie was Captain of the second Tortola entry at last year's Chief Ministers Cup. He will be helming at the BVI Spring Regatta this week as we train toward our big finale, the CM Cup. At Rolex Jamie was all over the boat handling the whisker pole on the downwind jibes and mainsheets on the windward legs. He also has competed in several Chief Ministers Cups as well as local races. Look for good results from him this weekend in the BVI Spring Regatta.

Jamar Cooper: Age 14. Javan's younger brother has been with us for 3 years. He is fast becoming an accomplished sailor and closing in on his brother. Jamar was busy at Rolex handling the jib sheet duties. He has also been on the team in our last 3 CM Cups.

Amal Maduro: Age 14. We were pleased to see Amal come back into the program after a time away. He is settling in and becoming a good all-round sailor. We look for big things from him down the road.

Jamal Wintz: Age 14. Jamal is now into his 4th year in KATS Sailing. He did a great job on foredeck duty this past weekend. He also has been on previous Team Tortolas at CN Cup.

Theo Stoddard: Age 15. Theo is also one of our long termers, now in his 4th year of KATS Sailors. We’re pleased to have Theo on the team and know he'll be a valuable addition.

Dontae Hodge-Dickenson: Age 12. Dontae may be smaller in stature than some of the older teammates, but what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in enthusiasm and spirit. He did a great job of keeping the boom out on the downwind legs. We should see a lot of this lad in the future.

Hats off to the KATS kids for their performance last weekend and watch out for them in the upcoming BVI Spring regatta, hosted this week at Nanny Cay Marina.

Sam T and Molly T

   A few weeks ago I attended an event / commemoration for a young boy who had been tragically killed here in Tortola, while on vacation, in an automobile accident about a year and a half ago. At the time of the accident, passers by came to the aid of the injured family of four. Among those that helped were members of Rotary Club of Tortola and the KATS program. A devastating blow to the family to lose their son, who was 11 years old and loved the sea and sailing. Apon returning back to the states, the family sent out thank you notes to all that helped during a very stressful time, not to mention the police, EMT's and doctors. Sam's sister, Molly, came up with a fund raising program after the family returned home to bury Sam, to raise money for the KAT'S program, to somehow show them the family's gratitude. Molly raised over $ 10, 000 so that the KATS program could buy two brand new Laser sailboats which they train on. The ceremony was both a celebration of Sam's short life, but also a heart felt thank you from the KATS sailing program.

Two boats were purchased with the funds, fully race rigged,with shore dollies. The KATS program held the event to Cristen the boats and unveiled the names painted on the hulls, "Sam T" and "Molly T". Truly a kind gesture on the part of the family who was here to vacation in the BVI's, who faced a tragedy in there lives, but still returned to the BVI's to thank the people of the BVI's once again.

This type of generosity is what keeps the program alive and thriving, teaching the kids a love of the sea as Sam had. Over the past 15 years, there have been many personal donations but this one from Sam's family will never be forgotten.

The KATS Kids

Kids And The Sea is a water sports program developed in 1987, on the Island of St. John, USVI. The program in the British Virgin Islands was started in 1990, mainly backed by the Rotary Club of Tortola. The KATS program has many types off classes offered to anyone that wants to participate. The program does have some parameters that must be met before a child can move on from one class to the next.

Number one is that the child must first take a swimming course, successfully pass, and then can move onto the rowing / boat handling course where knot tying is also taught. The next level is sailing courses, in which there are three levels. Level one is for the complete beginner who is given course books to read and is tested on, on the water sailing with either a volunteer instructor or a level two or three-student as their on board coach.

From there, a student moves to level two, which means that they are qualified to sail the boats on their own. They are taught to capsize the boat, re right the boat and continue on sailing, and having fun! The third level of students are kids that have started out in the program when they are eight years old and can continue on in the program until they reach their eighteenth birthday.

These are the very advanced kids that race our fleet of Lasers here in Tortola, and also compete all through the Caribbean. Another boat that the KATS program is very proud to own and race is the IC 24, which is a newly founded fleet of old J24's that have had major modifications made to the cockpit and down below bulkhead layouts. The company that does the conversions takes a J24 in nearly any condition and makes it into virtually a new yacht.

The grand finally of the KATS sailing season, which starts in January, is the coveted Chief Ministers Regatta, held here in the British Virgin Islands, and consists of up to ten teams from all over the Caribbean, for three days of really exciting sailboat racing. The regatta is also when all KATS sailors receive their certificates of achievement for the past year.

Enough cannot be said about the all volunteer instructors, The Rotary Club of Tortola and all of the donations, personal and corporate, that are made to the KATS program, to keep our kids safe on the water, have great fun and meet kids from other parts of the Caribbean for friendships that last a life time. Truly a program that keeps the community of the British Virgins Islands a shining star in the whole of the Caribbean.