Kelly-Ann Arrindell created history as the first female to take a first place finish in the Laser Class when she took part in the 22nd International Semaine Nautique De Schoelcher regatta, in Martinique, on February 20.
After a series of impressive results, Arrindell took a fourth place overall in the Laser category and a first place finish among all females, among the class, which comprised of 38 competitors, in what was the largest dinghy regatta in the Caribbean. Competing with 137 sailors from France, Canada, St Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Barbados, Arrindell, the only participant travelling from T&T, had her slowest start of the competition on the opening day, with a fifth placed end in the first race. Arrindell began Day Two with two second placed finishes and two top five results to maintain the fifth placed position.
On Day Three, she commenced her challenge with an impressive first place finish, which incredibly was 50 m ahead of the nearest challenger, one of the widest margins of victory in the regatta. The feat also saw her as the only female sailor to score a first place finish in the Laser 4.7 fleet. Unfortunately for Arrindell, a false start in the second race of the day, meant that she was unable to receive a score. The last race of Day Three was a grueling 15 mile race that had sailors racing from Schoelcher down to about a mile from Case Poilet and back up to Fort De France Bay and back to the club. After rounding the first mark back in 6th Arrindell gradually worked her way through the fleet to end with a deserved second place.
This impressive finish allowed her to move up the standings, thus at the end of Day Three, she found fourth place overall with a chance of moving up to third position. On the last day of Racing she continued with two excellent second place finishes to take the title of first placed female and fourth overall, and in so doing became the first and only T&T female sailor to score a first place in the Laser Class in Martinique.