Robbie Hirst Wins BVI Dinghy Championships

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Sailing
Robbie Hirst Wins BVI Dinghy Championships
By Dean Greenaway
May 12, 2008, 16:33

Alec Anderson benefitted from Robbie Hirst's experience. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA—Exactly 21 years after he won the British Virgin Islands first World Championships medal at any level, Robbie Hirst—a two time Olympian—climbed back into the Laser for the first time in 10 years.

The 1987 World Jr. Championships silver medalist fought off the challenges of Olympic Games aspirant Alec Anderson and a group of USVI and BVI challengers to win the weekend BVI Dinghy Championships with seven bullets.

“It was a low key fun regatta and I haven’t been in a laser in 10 years,” reflected Hirst who has been sailing IC-24s lately. “It took about half a day to get used to it, but I also remembered how painful it is to sail as well. The Laser is physically demanding. You need to have good conditioning or else you won’t be going very fast.”

Optimist sailors awaiting the start of their race. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Hirst said his biggest battle was with Anderson, who was on the Laser Radial. “We had a good duel all weekend,” he noted. “He’s sailing very fast. I think what I’m going to do is to put in a little bit of time with him after work and help him prepare for his next big event. That’s the plan for the next few months.”

While they were on different rigs, Anderson said Hirst was the only one pushing him and that came from his years of experience and practice. “This weekend was a training weekend and learning about how much more I need to practice,” he said.

Coach Jessica Murphy brought 11 St. Thomas said she thought her team did great, everybody sailed well and the competition was good. “We were looking for everybody to learn a little bit and get prepared for the upcoming Scotia Bank Regatta,” she said. “Overall, it was a fun race for our kids.”

Jason Putley heads upwind in his dinghy. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Addison Hackstaff and Nicholas Gartner, Murphy said, did well in the overall Optimist Class, taking the top spots with 11 and 12 points respectively. “It was just a fun weekend,” she said.

Royal BVI Yacht Club coach Chris Waters said the overall turnout was smaller than anticipated but the local turnout was bigger than last year.

Two Laser 4.7s begin their start. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Optimist Overall: 1. Addison Hackstaff, USVI, 11. 2. Nicholas Gartner, USVI, 12. 3. Jason Putley, 14. 4. Donte Hodge, 19. 5. Mollee Donovan, 28.

Laser Full: 1. Robbie Hirst, 7. 2. Andrew Waters, 15. 3. Joe McIvor, 22. 4. Richard Wooldridge, 24. 5. Ron Gurney, 36.

Laser Radial: 1. Alec Anderson, 8. 2. William Bailey, 12. 3. Emma Paul, 27. 4. Clair Burke, 36.

Laser 4.7: 1. Joyce McKenzie, 12. 2. Eben Meyers, 12. 3. Delroy Gordon, 10. 4. Mary Jordan, 26. 5. Glen Ford 28.

Picos: 1. David Bodley, 15. 2. Jasmine Boni-Ball, 21.

Open Bic: 1. Josh Morell, 10. 2. Robert Poole, 21. 3. David Hirst, 29. 4. Karion Branch, 41. 5. James Nicholas, 45.