Young Vincentian Sailor Shines with Bronze at Martinique Regatta 

By S.Browne. Updated 9:05 a.m., Thursday, February 19, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Young Vincentian sailor Joshua Weinhardt captured the bronze medal in the ILCA 4 class at the 34th Semaine Nautique Internationale de Schoelcher, held from February 14th to 17th, 2026, in Schoelcher, Martinique.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Sailing Association stated in a recent press release: “Competing in the ILCA 4 fleet, Weinhardt delivered a composed and consistent performance, including a couple of first-place finishes, throughout the regatta, navigating shifting breezes and strong regional competition to finish third overall and secure a place on the podium.”

The Association highlighted that over the past year, Weinhardt has recorded multiple podium finishes at Caribbean youth regattas, including a second-place finish at the 2025 Caribbean Dinghy Championships and gold at the 2026 Barbados Sailing Week Junior Regatta in the ILCA 4 class.

“Joshua’s results reflect not only his talent, but also the strength of the development pathway being built for young sailors in St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Sailing Association’s High Performance Centre,” noted President of the SVG Sailing Association, Jenny Trumble.

The Association further noted that Weinhardt’s podium finish in Martinique underscores both his individual progress and the continued development of youth sailing in St Vincent and the Grenadines, as more young athletes gain experience and recognition on the regional circuit.

As the 2026 season continues, Joshua Weinhardt is expected to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines at additional Caribbean and international regattas, including the Antigua National Dinghy Championships in March and the World Championships in Denmark in August.

The Semaine Nautique Internationale de Schoelcher is one of the Caribbean’s premier regattas for dinghy sailing, drawing competitors from across the French Caribbean, mainland France, and neighbouring islands. Organised by the Cercle Nautique de Schoelcher and run under World Sailing and Fédération Française de Voile rules, the regatta features Optimist, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7 and board classes, racing a series of 12 races over multiple days on the challenging west-coast waters off Fort-de-France Bay.

Widely regarded as a proving ground for young sailors, the Semaine Nautique Internationale de Schoelcher offers large fleets, varied conditions, and a high standard of race management. Regular participation in events of this calibre is seen as a key step in preparing Caribbean youth sailors for continental championships and future international campaigns.

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