Six of Barbados’ top dinghy sailors will leave the island on Thursday evening to compete against some of the best from the rest of the Caribbean at the 2012 Caribbean Dinghy Championships in Antigua over the weekend.
The team comprises Leisl Brewster, Kimberley Gittens, Scott Gittens, Jason Tindale, Amy Cox and Anish Persaud.
Persaud,11, will represent Barbados for the first time in the Optimist class.
The Optimist, one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, is intended for use by children up to the age of 15.
Persaud will be competing in the junior class for those under 12.
At 14, Scott Gittens has just returned from the Optimist World Championships in the Dominican Republic and the Scotia Bank Regatta in St Thomas where he gained a wealth of experience.
The talented and determined Gittens will represent Barbados in the Zoom 8 Class. Last year, Scott sailed extremely well, placing third in this class.
Amy Cox will represent Barbados in the Laser Olympic Radial. Cox has been representing Barbados in the Optimist and Zoom 8 and Laser Radial over the past five years including the CAC Games in Puerto Rico in 2010.
Jason Tindale will compete in the Laser Olympic Standard. Tindale won the Laser Radial class in Antigua in 2011 and placed second in 2009.
Tindale is well acquainted with the event, having successfully sailed for Barbados for several years in both of the Laser classes, the Zoom 8 Class and the Optimist Class. Tindale also represented Barbados at the CAC Games on 2010.
Completing the team are Brewster and Kimberley Gittens, who will sail together in the two-member Laser Pico.
The girls have represented Barbados on two previous occasions in the championships.
Extremely keen sailors who began their sailing careers in Optimist Dinghies, they have benefitted greatly over recent weeks from coaching provided by the experienced Peter “Wipers” Hoad, with Penny McIntyre as manager. (PR)
