Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1147486
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 JULY 2019 21 SPORTS SAILING THE Jarhead Young Sailors' Foundation, a non-profit or- ganisation with the principle purpose of educating children, youths and young adults in the sport of sailing, was recently represented at the Royal Ocean Racing Club Cowes - Dinard - St Malo Race. This participation was the first international event outside of Mediterranean waters for the young crew. The race saw the Jarhead Crew taking part in IRC Class Three which was the larg- est class in this race. The young crew was led by experienced sailor Nikki Hen- derson and consisted of Fabio Galea, Emilie Gregory, Greg Mifsud Orlando, Patrice Pace, Saul Vassallo, Francesca Zam- mit and Zachary Zammit, most of whom have graduated from Optimist, Laser and RS Feva classes. The crew gained a respectable 19th place from a fleet of 49 starters. In 2018, Nikki Henderson be- came the youngest ever skipper to lead a team in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race at the age of 25. Henderson ex- plained that the weekend race was not short of its challenges and 'firsts': first UK race for the crew, first time in the cold UK waters, first time that all got together as a team and the first time the crew sailed the new boat JYS Jan. The crew saw the fleet race in a beautiful south, southwest wind, with 10 - 15 knots in the first six hours or so of the race that veered as they sailed south. This allowed them to curve round and eventually point to- wards St. Malo all on one tack. As night came the wind in- creased to a solid 20 knots and the crew pushed the boat hard over the dark hours - with the A3 (a spinnaker) sailing as high as they could to round Les Ha- nois lighthouse. With rocks within a mile to port and the fleet bearing down on JYS Jan's starboardd, it was a hair-raising moment, and the crew admitted that their hearts were in their mouths as they pushed around the corner. This tactic was worth it though and the Jarhead Crew managed to gain a lot of ground. The result obtained by the Jar- head crew was a major achieve- ment, keeping in mind that they raced against boats and sailors who know the race and waters better. The Jarhead crew is now pre- paring for the famed Rolex Fast- net Race, a 606 nautical mile offshore yacht race, which will start on Saturday 3rd August. The Rolex Fastnet is famous for the notorious tidal waters that dominate the course. Wilfrid Buttigieg, the Foun- dations administrator said the foundation was very pleased with how the crew came to- gether. "We have formed a team that will represent Malta in the pres- tigious and sought after Rolex Fastnet and after that there are plans for the Foundation's two J-109's to be represented in an- other 606 nautical mile course - the iconic Rolex Middle Sea Race," he said. Rolex Fastnet participation for Jarhead Young Sailors crew The Jarhead crew