Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Mar 14, 2026

Rathbun Captures Laser Championship

Rathbun Captures Laser Championship

Despite the constantly changing conditions, racers enjoyed a six race series and close competition out in the Sir Francis Drake Channel.

The BVI Laser Masters Championship was born in 2018 and since then only one name appears on the trophy. Christian Thompson sealed the deal in 2018 and 2019 whilst COVID put a stop to the 2020 edition but could he do it again?

The Royal British Virgin Islands Yacht Club stated that Thompson set the marker down early to take the win in the first race ahead of 2021 BVI Dinghy Champs winner Colin Rathbun and Chris Haycraft. In race number two, Mike Hirst made his presence felt, taking the bullet with Thompson in second. In the remaining four races, Rathbun put the hammer down, took three out of four wins and with that, won the title by one point.

Haycraft sailed a consistent regatta despite waging a war against numerous tiller extensions and finished the day in third overall. New to BVI sailing and shaking off the cobwebs was Nick Maris who sailed a solid day, posting his best result of a third in the final race and finishing fourth overall.

In the Laser Radial Class, BVI Youth Team sailor Savion James took a string of bullets through the day, competing in his first regatta in the class. Marentia de Villiers, the only female Laser skipper, came in second behind James in the Radial, once again showing true grit and determination and always with a smile!

Meanwhile, in the Optimist class, Harry Dixon and William Sanders went head to head for the Back to School title. In the end it was Dixon who came out the victor with two firsts and a second. Congratulations to both sailors who put in a good performance on a tricky day and are eager to keep working hard at their trianing with the BVI Youth Sailing Team.

In the RSFeva class, Samuel Allen and Ethan George shared the helming duties throughout the day and took first overall. Mixiing it up with the Lasers they are put in a great performance, demonstrating the skills learned during the Feva Team Racing training with the BVI Youth Team. Cate Armstrong skipperd the second Feva, sailing with daughters Mia and Ellie in their first ever BVI regatta.

Results


Laser


1. Colin Rathbun , 7
2. Christian Thompson, 8
3. Chris Haycraft, 16
4. Nick Maris, 19
5. Mike Hirst, 24 (RTD)

Laser Radial

1. Savion James, 6
2. Marentia de Villiers, 10

Optimist

1. Harry Dixon, 4
2. Wiliam Sanders, 5

RS Feva

1. Ethan George & Samuel Allen
2. Cate, Mia & Ellie Armstrong

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Weak Growth Signals UK Economy Was Faltering Even Before Middle East Energy Shock
Marks & Spencer Tops UK Fashion Retail Rankings as Most Considered Brand
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Royal Navy to Acquire Twenty Uncrewed Surface Vessels for Autonomous Warfare Testing
Russia Summons British and French Envoys After Ukrainian Storm Shadow Strike on Strategic Facility
Starmer Confirms Britain Will Maintain Sanctions on Russia Despite U.S. Policy Shift
UK Moves to Refine AI Definition in Investment Security Reform
UK Economy Stalls in January as Growth Unexpectedly Falls to Zero
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Tesla Secures Approval to Supply Electricity Directly to Homes Across Britain
Prince William Delivers Tribute to Australia’s Naval Alliance Amid Renewed Royal Spotlight on the Country
UK Foreign Secretary Travels to Saudi Arabia to Reinforce Support for Regional Allies
Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ May Be Assisting Iran in Conflict With Trump, UK Defence Secretary Warns
UK Sets April Deadline for Tech Platforms to Strengthen Online Protections for Children
Elon Musk Moves Into Britain’s Energy Market as Tesla Wins Licence to Supply Power
UK Watchdog Warns Fuel Retailers Against Profiteering Amid Iran War Price Surge
Report Claims Iran Used UK Charity Network to Expand Influence
United States and United Kingdom Establish Joint Standards for Counter-Drone Technology
Iran May Be Laying Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz, UK Warns Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions
US Deploys Bunker-Buster Bombs to UK Airbase as Iran Conflict Intensifies
British Troops in Iraq Intercept Iranian Drones Targeting Coalition Base
Release of Mandelson Files Raises Tensions as UK Seeks Stable Relations With Donald Trump
UK Documents Reveal Starmer Was Warned About Mandelson’s Epstein Links Before Ambassador Appointment
Nearly Five Hundred UK Mortgage Deals Withdrawn in Two Days as Market Volatility Forces Lenders to Reprice
Three Cargo Ships Hit Near Iran as Attacks Spread to Strategic Strait of Hormuz
Why British Police Repeatedly Declined to Investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s UK Links
UK Parliament Ends Hereditary Seats in House of Lords, Closing Chapter on Centuries of Aristocratic Lawmaking
EU and UK Urge Israel to Act Against Rising West Bank Settler Violence Amid Regional Tensions
US Senator John Kennedy Says Keir Starmer Should Not Be Trusted for Military Advice Amid Iran War Debate
UK High Court Rejects Attempt to Revive Terrorism Charge Against Kneecap Rapper
Revolut Secures Full UK Banking Licence After Multi-Year Regulatory Wait
Kentucky’s Bench Boost Powers Wildcats Past LSU in SEC Tournament Opener
British Couple Die After Being Pulled From Water at Australian Beach During Family Visit
British Airways Suspends UK Repatriation Flights as Middle East Travel Disruption Deepens
US Forces Prepare Ordnance at RAF Fairford as Strategic Bombers Deploy for Middle East Operations
Nigel Farage Faces Criticism After Saying Britain Should Stay Out of Iran War
Landmark UK Trial Begins Over Sony’s PlayStation Store Pricing
UK High Court Rejects Bid to Challenge Britain’s Chagos Islands Agreement With Mauritius
Finnish Duo Triumphs in England’s Annual Wife-Carrying Race, Winning a Barrel of Ale
How U.S. and UK National Security Strategies Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape
Green Party Gains Momentum as Labour Shifts Toward the Political Centre
Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Dragon Sets Sail for Eastern Mediterranean as Regional Tensions Rise
UK Homebuilder Persimmon Warns Iran Conflict Could Dent Property Buyer Confidence
Roman Abramovich Signals Legal Fight if UK Seeks to Seize Chelsea Sale Funds
UK Ready to Back Emergency Oil Reserve Release as Middle East Conflict Pushes Prices Higher
Study of 40,000 Articles Sparks Debate Over Alleged Anti-Muslim Bias in UK Media
×