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Seahawk soar to victory at 14th Latvian Independence Regatta in Kingston Harbour

December 12, 2025
From left: Robert Scott, honorary consul general, Latvia and vice commodore, Royal Jamaica Yacht Club; Rugie Misir, skipper of SeaHawk; Marianne Ziss, French ambassador; Malcolm Frederick, Steven Cooke, Spencer May, commodore of the Montego Bay Yacht Club; Susan Wilson, and little Izabel Misir at the awards ceremony for the 14th Latvian Independence Regatta at the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club in Kingston Harbour on Sunday.
From left: Robert Scott, honorary consul general, Latvia and vice commodore, Royal Jamaica Yacht Club; Rugie Misir, skipper of SeaHawk; Marianne Ziss, French ambassador; Malcolm Frederick, Steven Cooke, Spencer May, commodore of the Montego Bay Yacht Club; Susan Wilson, and little Izabel Misir at the awards ceremony for the 14th Latvian Independence Regatta at the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club in Kingston Harbour on Sunday.

KINGSTON:

Seahawk, skippered by Rugie Misir, powered through brisk, gusting conditions to claim first place in a corrected time (after handicap) of 74.6 minutes to lift the prestigious Ian 'Gibbo' Gibson Trophy at the 14th Latvian Independence Regatta 2025 in Kingston Harbour.

Adding to the distinction of the winning vessel, Her Excellency Marianne Ziss, ambassador to France, sailed aboard Seahawk during the race on Sunday, lending further international significance to the event.

The annual regatta -- now a marquee fixture on Jamaica's sporting and diplomatic calendar -- was conceived in 2011 by Robert Scott, honorary consul general of the Republic of Latvia to Jamaica and CEO of Lifespan Distribution Limited. Since its inception, the event has evolved into a unique blend of sport and diplomacy.

Jamaica remains the only country in the world to celebrate a nation's Independence through yacht racing and surfing competitions, making the Latvian Independence Regatta a one-of-a-kind international sporting observance.

Competing in strong winds and demanding conditions across Kingston Harbour, the fleet delivered a thrilling contest. Blue J, skippered by Andrew Thwaites, a multiple-time regatta champion, secured second place with a corrected time of 74.87 minutes, while Jazz, under Stephen Facey, claimed third place with corrected time of 76.19 minutes, to complete the podium.

Commenting on her experience aboard the winning yacht, Ambassador Ziss stated: "France has an established sailing tradition; sailing was part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. I thank the Honorary Consul General for his invitation today and hope to develop exchanges around sailing between France and Jamaica."

The celebrations continue with the surfing competition, scheduled for Sunday, at Peenie Wallie Point in Buff Bay, Portland, in association with the Jamaica Surfing Association, further reinforcing the regatta's role as a platform for international sporting and cultural exchange.

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