CRYC Commodore presenting I YR Iain Wilson, 25953, his 3rd Place trophy and medal
RMC’s I Year Iain Wilson Comes Home with a Bronze Medal!
After completing his exams on December 17, 2010 and a few days rest at home catching up with family and friends, I Yr Iain Wilson 25953 #6 Squadron and member of the Ontario Sailing Team, accompanied by 12738 D’Arcy Wilson, left the cold climate of Ancaster, Ontario on 23 December, 2010 for the warm air of Miami. The focus of the trip was to compete in the annual Orange Bowl Youth Regatta held at the Coral Reef Yacht Club and US National Sail Training Centre East located in the Miami suburb of Coconut Grove on the beautiful shores of Biscayne Bay from 27 to 30 December, 2010.
Every year at this time, the world’s 2nd largest youth regatta is held. This year’s regatta had entries from 23 countries and 35 states of the United States involving over 700 young sailors involving 4 classes of racing boats. It truly is an international youth regatta with very aggressive competition that has become a top youth training event for many of the best sailors in the world. This was Iain’s third and final year competing at this regatta, now aging out at 18. He was also the lone Canadian in the fleet competing in the Olympic Class Laser division.
Having last been in his boat during the first week of August, competing at the Canadian Youth National Championships in Ottawa, before heading of to RMC for Recruit Term and FYOP, Iain stepped into a boat for a training day on the 26th of December for the first time since then. With one day to train in the coldest weather on record for Miami, with the morning air temperature starting at 0oC, Iain completed a training session in the warmer afternoon (8 oC ) air to work out the kinks of the boat and himself.
After 4 days of close racing , Iain finished in a 3-way tie for 2nd place, ending up in 3rd overall! It was a great finish to end his “Youth” sailing career. Bravo Zulu!