Recently Sailor Will Fyfe travelled to Bermuda his parents share what it is like to be part of this invitational only event by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.
Will recently returned from Bermuda having accepted a very generous invitation from the Royal Bermudian Yacht Club to attend the 2024 Junior Gold Cup.
The event brought together talented young sailors from across the globe for a week of competitive sailing in the stunning waters of the Great Sound. The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is steeped in history and renowned for its hospitality. The sailors were provided with charter boats and full coaching support on and off the water for the duration of the event.
The event took place on the Great Sound, the same venue as the 2017 Americas Cup Regatta, offering a challenging sailing environment. The Sound is surrounded by reef, thus the waters are protected from ocean swells, however predominately offshore breezes were highly volatile resulting in gusty and shifty conditions which tested the local and international sailors alike.
The regatta featured a range of conditions with two training days and the first race day marked by winds of 20+ knots. The breeze then moderated over day 2 and 3 of the regatta, making for an exciting mix of conditions throughout the event. Unfortunately, day 4 was lost to very light breeze, bringing an early end to what had been a fantastic competition.
Will Fyfe performed admirably, finishing 7th overall.
At one point, he had been as high as 3rd place going into what turned out to be the last day of the regatta. For Will, this regatta was a valuable learning experience, he was able to observe and gain insight into the equipment and techniques being used by the leading overseas competitors.
This insight gained is particularly timely as Will is soon to depart for Mar del Plata Argentina as part of New Zealand International Optimist Dinghy Association (NZIODA) team who will be competing at the World Optimist Championships in December 2024.
One of the most unique aspects of the Junior Gold Cup was its festival style atmosphere. Sailors were invited from around the world and hosted with local families, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among the competitors. This approach encouraged sailors to interact socially and share knowledge, making it an invaluable networking and friendship building opportunity. The bonds forged at this event will undoubtedly last long into the future, as many of these young sailors will meet again at future regattas.
Looking ahead we are excited to see many of the competitors and their families again in Argentina.
We highly recommend the Junior Gold Cup, should your sailor have the opportunity to attend. Bermuda’s natural beauty, combined with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club’s unparalleled hospitality, made this event a truly special experience.
A big thank you to the sponsor, regatta organisers and NZIODA for their support in organizing and managing logistics for this event.
Great memories for all the sailors and their families.
Tania & Scott Fyfe
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