The Regatta Sailing Academy’s annual award ceremony took place at Intercontinental Hotel Doha with sponsors, families, friends, school heads and teachers attending to honour students’ sailing achievements throughout the year.
Sami Abu Shaikha with all prizewinners. Right : Yachtmaster Henry Castledine with Qatar Leadership Academy Achievers for their expedition to Bahrain
“Whilst the last year has been a challenging one, we have more schools involved with our afternoon activity classes, more students sailing offshore in our Teenage Yachting programmes, more adults sailing dinghies, catamarans and yachts, and a very high standard of racing generally ,” said Mike Lawton, General Manager of the Academy. “During the next academic year the Academy will become a fully fledged Royal Yachting Association Training Centre which is a very exciting step for us all”.
Certificates were then awarded to students achieving their bronze, silver, gold and platinum status.
Sami Abu Shaikha with students of the Year Spike Douglas (R) and Neasa Tubridy
International Award Certificates were presented by Intercontinental Hotel’s Resident Manager Gilles Nicolas to those who had undertaken their Sailing Expedition Bronze Award to Bahrain – some 270 nautical miles – and Gold Award to UAE – 360 nautical miles on the Academy’s 30ft yachts. Among those receiving these awards were students from Qatar Leadership Academy, ACS Community School, Doha College, Park House International School and Al Khor School.
Gilles also presented the Fiona McPhail Trophy for best Doha College Student to Megan Wykes. The Helen Thomas Memorial Trophy for the student who, throughout the year has strived to overcome particular difficulties, went to Danielle Bayatti.
Best Achievers from Schools Activity Classes were: Sam and Tabitha Shadbolt ISL; Curtis Byrne DESS; Luuk van Weelden Compass Intl; Alex Evans Park House Intl.; Omar Monjed Al Khor; Paddy Thorne Sherborne; Yara Maria Licha QIS and Toma Turcu Newton Schools. Schools Team Shield was won by Sherborne School.
RSA’s Racing Series winners were:
Autumn Series (Gulf Contracting Trophy): Michael Bayatti with medal winners Amy Lord 2nd and Ishan Lawendatu 3rd. Class Winners: 1st Tera: Francesca Jones;
1st Pico: Naesa Tubridy; 1st Laser: Ryan Goff.
Winter Series (Apollo Enterprise Trophy): Michael Bayatti with medal winners Joel Goff 2nd and Ryan Goff 3rd. Class Winners: 1st Tera: Simon Maigaard; 1st Pico: Naesa Tubridy;
1st Laser: Petar Vuk Avramovic.
Spring Series (Park House School Award): Ryan Goff with medal winners Michael Bayatti 2nd and Simon Maigaard 3rd. Class Winners: 1st Tera: Oisin Tubridy; 1st Pico: Naesa Tubridy;
1st Laser: Peter Vuk Avramovic.
Summer Series: Sami Abu Shaikha who established Qatar’s first “Sail the Gulf” Regatta and currently Secretary General of Qatar Watersports Federation presented the Gulf Agency Trophy to Joel Figov with medal winners Ryan Goff 2nd and Michael Bayatti 3rd. Class Winners: 1st Tera: Francesca Jones; 1st Pico: Neasa Tubridy;
1st Laser: Spike Douglass.
Youth Learning to Race: Winner: Niklas Davydov; 2nd Brendan Mullen; 3rd Devrim Cagin Sariarscan.
Adult Race Group 1: Winner: Denise Munster; 2nd Rob Munster; 3rd Julie Tuck.
Adult Race Group 2: Winner: Terry Fensom; 2nd David Kirkwood; 3rd Evangelos Koukoulis.
Ladies Racing: Winner: Sacha Thorne; 2nd Fabienne Depefeirreu; 3rd Nichola Elliott.
Best Junior Racer: Simon Maigaard. Best Adult Racer: Terry Fensom.
Best Lady Racer: Nichola Elliott
Special Events:
National Day Regatta: Winner: Michael Bayatti; 2nd Danielle Bayatti; 3rd Ryan Goff
Champion of Champions: Winner: Ryan Goff; 2nd Fabienne Depefeirreu; 3rd Michael Bayatti
1st Adult: SimonTorkington; 1st Junior: Joel Figov.
Match Racing: Winner: Fabienne Depefeirreu; 2nd Rob Munster; 3rd Terry Fensom.
Overall Students of the Year
Junior: Zachary (Spike) Douglas
Senior: Naesa Tubridy