The United States Optimist Dingy Association named Sean Golden and Alec Stewart, both from Duxbury, to the 15-person Team USA that represented the United States at the Flanders Invitational Regatta, in Nieuwpoort, Belgium. Sailors qualified for the event based upon their performance at the US National Team Trials that took place in early May, in Darien, Conn.

The US Team was comprised of Optimist sailors from throughout the USA, including  New England, Illinois, Florida  and Texas.  Coaching the team were long time US National Optimist coach Ben Williams, from South Florida, and Eddie Conrad from Stanford University.  The team met in Europe several days prior to the event to practice in the conditions and adjust to the time zone.

The international event took place over five days, and hosted teams from 11 countries throughout Europe, North America, and South America.  A total of 79 sailors competed in the regatta.  The event took place in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, on the North Sea.  The area is known for strong tides, strong winds, and rugged weather, though for the better part of the eight days of sailing, the sun shined and the winds were light.  However, conditions changed during the final days of the regatta and the racers saw six-foot seas and winds that blew, at times, over 30 knots.  Sailing on day four was cancelled due to lightning in the area.

Alec Stewart, a freshman at Duxbury High School, sailed very consistently throughout the regatta, finishing 28th place overall in a very talented international fleet.  His strong performance included an eigthplace during the second day of racing.  “Sailing in Belgium was a real sailing experience,” said Stewart.  “Especially when they right away pulled the black flag. I have to admit I was a little shaken but I still managed to pull out a good set of races.”

Alec is part of the Duxbury Bay Maritime School Race Team and the Fort Adams Sailing Team  in Newport, Rhode Island.  Since returning from Europe he has continued his success in Optis, taking first place in the Duxbury Yacht Club Regatta and the Stone Horse Regatta in Harwichport.  Stewart is presently a front runner for the Southern Mass Sailing Association Grand Prix Award.  

Sean Golden, a sophomore at Tabor Academy, fought back from a disqualification in his first race of the first day to finish 40th overall in the regatta.  Golden’s sailing seemed to improve as the conditions became more severe, moving up 12 places in the final days thanks to the strong wind and big waves.  “Sailing in the conditions on the final days was nothing like I had experienced before in an Opti,” said Golden. “At one point, a squaw came through and it was blowing 35-40 knots.  The waves were so big that at times you would go down a roller and the entire fleet would disappear.  It was great.”

Golden sails for the Duxbury Bay Maritime School and FAST, as well as Tabor Academy’s Sailing Team.  Golden has moved up from the Opti Class to the two-person 420 class boats this summer. “I really feel fortunate that I had the chance to be part of the US Team and have my last Opti race be in Belgium,” he said.   Golden, along with Doyle Calhoun of Cohasset, took first place in the Duxbury Bay 420 Regatta the weekend before leaving for Belgium.  He and DBMS crew Emily Pitman also won the Duxbury Yacht Club Regatta last week.

Since it began in 1998, the Duxbury Bay Maritime School has trained numerous sailors that have competed at regional, national, and international levels.  DBMS provides instruction to over 1,600 students per year, from basic sailing and water safety classes to training for sailors that will compete at the highest levels.  It is regarded as among the leading sailing programs in New England for novice and advanced sailing instruction, as well as ACCESSAIL, a nationally recognized, award-winning program that provides sailing opportunities for those with disabilities.