Great starts and tactics paid off for Puerto Rico’s Fernando Monllor, who won the 15th annual Scotiabank Caribbean International Optimist Regatta, sailed out of St Thomas Yacht Club, US Virgin Islands from 23-25 June.

Monllor was one of a record 95 junior sailors (age 8-15) representing Germany, Canada, the US mainland (Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington), Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, all three US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Barbados and Curacao, making this the largest regatta of its kind in the Caribbean.

Junior sailors were grouped into advanced and beginner fleets, and the advanced fleet was further subdivided into age groups.

Puerto Rico’s Monllor also won the Red Fleet (age 13-15), followed by fellow islanders Raul Rios, in second, and Ivan Aponte, in third. Rios is the reigning South American Championships winner and Aponte the North American Championships winner, distinctions that highlight the caliber of sailing talent at this regatta.

Overall Results (72 boats)

1st Fernando Monllor, Puerto Rico, 2-2-1-2-4-5-3-17-1-(28)-5-12-2; 54
2nd Raul Rios, Puerto Rico, (31)-1-8-1-8-2-1-3-14-12-9-5-3-9; 64
3rd Ivan Aponte, Puerto Rico, 11-(15)-11-11-2-11-7-4-2-5-2-11; 77

RED FLEET (28 Boats)
1st Fernando Monllor, Puerto Rico, 2-2-1-2-4-5-3-17-1-(28)-5-12-2; 54
2nd Raul Rios, Puerto Rico, (31)-1-8-1-8-2-1-3-14-12-9-5-3-9; 64
3rd Ivan Aponte, Puerto Rico, 11-(15)-11-11-2-11-7-4-2-5-2-11; 77

BLUE FLEET (35 Boats)
1st Ian Barrows, St. Thomas, USVI, 13-12-13-25-7-8-(36)-6-27-2-3-7-2; 123
2nd Christopher Williford, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 43-18-(73OCS)-12-1-15-2-1-16-4-79-3; 128
3rd Eduardo Ariza, Dominican Republic, 22-17-27-8-9-21-(34)-8-12-14-29-22; 189

WHITE FLEET (9 Boats)
1st Addison Hackstaff, St. Thomas, USVI, 20-(73OCS)-29-73BFD-49-31-14-31- 49-62-39-43-2; 440
2nd Odile Van Aanholt, Curacao, 56-41-41-41-27-43-41-44-47-64-(72)-47-3; 492
3rd Antonio Bailey, Bermuda, 58-23-50-52-41-58-61-61-(67)-59-46-42; 551

GREEN FLEET (23 Boats)
1st Elliot Vernon, Cayman Islands, 2-4-2-1-(6)-1-2-4-2-5-2-2-3-2-5-2; 37
2nd Camilo Bernal, Cayman Islands 1-8-12-3-2-2-6-1-6-(13)-1-1-1-4-4-3; 52
3rd Alexandria Rich, St. Croix, USVI (20)-3-3-6-3-6-4-5-4-3-7-3-2-1-3; 53

TOP GIRL
1st Nikole ‘Nikki’ Barnes, St. Thomas, USVI, 10-4-19-5-10-10-5-5-8-1-11-(21); 88