The 2012 Compass Marine National Laser Championships were held in the North Sound by the Cayman Island Sailing Club (CISC) over the weekend of 24^th and 25^th November. The wind conditions remained strong throughout the regatta ensuring exciting fast sailing.

Compass Marine was the new sponsor for this event “We are really happy to be sponsoring the most significant dinghy competition in Cayman’s sailing calendar” said Mike Farrington, owner of Compass Marine. “The Laser is the largest Olympic sailing class in the world and we are lucky to have a substantial fleet here in Cayman. Eighteen boats out on the water is a good turnout. Especially pleasing is to see more youth sailors competing than ever before.”

The national championships are sailed in two classes: Standard rig and radial rig for lighter sailors.

Nick Taylor ran away with the Standard class with 7 bullets out of 7. Coaches Raph Harvey and Kelvin Browne followed in second and third. Taylor has now won four of the last five National championships only failing last year when he was beaten by just one point by Harvey. Reigning champion Raph was quick to praise his arch rival Nick. “He had the control and fitness levels needed for these conditions and I just couldn’t match him on the downwind legs. We will miss Nick when he returns to his native New Zealand at the end of the year. He has brought a lot to the fleet in his time here”.

Eduardo Bernal emulated Nick in the radial class with 7 wins out of 7. Youth sailors Shane McDermot and Thomas Bishop took second and third. Jesse Jackson who recently won the Laser class in the youth

championship took fourth place.

Race Officer Andrew Moon congratulated all the sailors but had special praise for the youth sailors. “It’s great to see these youngster’s who have come up through the youth sailing programme giving the adults a run for their money in the top dinghy event of the year. Conditions were not easy and they showed both skill and stamina in coming through a two day regatta with such success.”

The next major dinghy event is the ever popular East End regatta scheduled to be held over the January long weekend. The sailing club also hosts monthly dinghy racing on the first Sunday of every month. For more details contact [email protected].