- Teen Sailor Makes Record-Breaking Voyage to Support his team Vincy Sailing and his Olympic Dreams
On Sunday, January 14, 2024, 13-year-old Vincentian Kai Marks Dasent accomplished a remarkable feat by sailing 10 miles from St. Vincent to Bequia, setting a record for future attempts. The journey, completed in an impressive 1 hour and 12 minutes, aimed to raise funds for Kai and his teammates to participate in international sailing competitions, with his goal of reaching the Olympics in 2028.
To attend an international regatta, the parents and guardians are required to contribute over half the required finances. Sailing is an expensive sport and has additional costs like the hiring of boats and equipment at venues, which can really add up, so Kai has embarked on this journey to help bridge the financial gap for the team for the upcoming year. The avid sailor expressed gratitude to all of his sponsors, notably highlighting the significant support from his family, especially his mother Sabrina, father Brian, and brother Rio.
The sail garnered substantial support from various sponsors in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, such as Bar One, Jaden Sun, Dell’s Apartments, Mustique Company, Cafe Soleil, KFC, Dive SVG, ECMIL, Minors Hardware, Last Bar Before the Jungle, Mayreau, and Sugar Apple Bequia. This puts Kai well on his way to achieving the Vincy Sailing team’s fundraising target. Kai’s aspirations extend beyond this initial success, with hopes of attracting larger sponsors in the future to help fulfil his Olympic dream.
The route, from the Blue Lagoon markers in St. Vincent to the Devil’s Table marker in Bequia, showcased Kai’s sailing prowess, navigating 2-metre rollers with confidence in approximately 12 to 15 knots of wind. Reflecting on the experience, Kai enthusiastically shared, “I loved it; the surfing was my favourite part. Thank you so much to Queen Mary Sailing Club in the UK and Kestrel Liners for donating my boat, which I was extremely happy with. And I’m so excited to be attending the international regattas with my teammates.”.
A group of people who had gathered to support and wish Kai luck cheered him on as he set sail. As Kai arrived at Devils Table in Bequia, Kerry from Bar One greeted him, adding a sense of community celebration to the accomplishment.
Sabrina Marks-Dasent, Kai’s mother, expressed pride in her son’s determination and the family’s collective effort to make his dream a reality. “Kai has raised enough money to contribute to two international events this year for the Vincy Sailing team: the Open Skiff North American Championships in Augusta, Georgia, where Vincy Sailing has a team of three, including Kai, and the Antigua National Championships, team to be decided, where he aims to surpass his silver medal from last year,” she stated.
API and Naralayo Media captured the spirit of Kai’s accomplishment by documenting the journey. This record-breaking sail not only marks a personal triumph for Kai Marks Dasent but also symbolises the strength of community support in realising dreams.
