Thad Lettsome: The Sailing Prodigy Making Waves for the British Virgin Islands

In the world of sailing, the name Thad Lettsome is rapidly rising to prominence. Hailing from the British Virgin Islands, he’s currently making waves as he prepares to represent his homeland at the Pan American (PANAM) Games 2023 in Chile.

Born on January 17, 2002, this 17-year-old prodigy is the first sailor to proudly hoist the BVI flag at the Pan Am Games since the 1990s when he represented the BVI in the 2021 Junior PANAM Games in Cali, Colombia.

Competing against a fleet of 14 sailors aged between 17 and 22, Lettsome secured 6th place overall In the Laser class, and 2nd place in the U-21 category, marking a historic achievement for both himself and the British Virgin Islands.

Thad’s journey, however, started years ago in the Optimist class under the guidance of coach Omari Scott at the Royal BVI Yacht Club Youth Sailing Program. His early achievements, including a win in the age 10 and under White Fleet at the International Optimist Regatta in St. Thomas, set the stage for a remarkable sailing career.

Recognizing Lettsome’s potential, he transitioned to larger vessels, including the Zoom 8 and the 13.6-foot Laser. With each step, he continued to rise in the sailing world, achieving successes that hinted at his future greatness.

His dedication to the sport led him to further hone his skills, including training with the Royal Canadian Yacht Club and joining the Canadian Laser Radial National Team Training Camp in Toronto. The guidance of experienced coaches, including Brenda Bowskill, who represented Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympics, has only added to his potential.

Currently attending Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts, Lettsome also represents his school in sailing competitions.

His recent accomplishments include a 10th-place finish at the U.S. Laser Nationals in Houston, Texas, followed by a stellar 14th place out of 58 international sailors at the Youth Sailing World Championship in Corpus Christi, Texas. He continued to impress, securing 4th place overall in Laser Radials at the CORK International Regatta in Kingston, Canada.

Thad aspires to secure a medal at the Youth Sailing World Championships in the Laser Radial class, while continuing to excel in regattas across North America.

In the long run, his ultimate dream is to switch to the Laser Standard class and win a medal at the Olympics for the British Virgin Islands.