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Canadian Optimist Nationals

Bermuda Sailing Association @ Thu Aug 28 15:37:00 +0100 2008

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club sent a team of 12 youth sailors to compete in the Canadian National Championships hosted by the Lunenburg Yacht Club in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia under the guidance of RBYC Racing Coach Paul
Doughty. Chase Cooper, Brandon Simmons, Caleb Simmons and Mikey Wollmann competed in Green Fleet (novice racers) in the protected waters off the LYC dock with 24 other sailors. Michael Barit, Mackenzie Cooper, Sam Stan,
Rahiem Steede, Dimitri Stevens, Ceci Wolmann, Ellie Wollmann, Terreko Wilson competed in the Championship fleet sailed on Mahone Bay off Herman’s Island which was 94 sailors strong. The Championship Fleet consisted of the top Canadian sailors and other world ranked ‘Opti’ veterans such as Malcolm Lamphere and Clay Danly from the USA, Juan Carlos “Juanky” Perdomo from Puerto Rico and Ian Barrows, current South American Champion from the US Virgin Islands.

The first 2 days of racing where sailed in “survival conditions” with 18 – 24 knots of breeze from the north west in cool but sunny temperatures. The beginning of day 2 saw Bermuda’s first casualty when Mackenzie Cooper suffered a chipped bone in his foot prior to launching and was out of the competition while sitting in 7th place
overall. The lighter sailors suffered in the breezy and cool conditions but were tougher than many of their Canadian counterparts. Dimitri Stevens was consistent throughout and was the top Bermudian each day regardless of the weather conditions. Day 3 and 4 brought moderate winds and warmer temperatures and the Bermudians made the most of it, finding the conditions similar to our own Great Sound. These familiar conditions saw all the Bermudians move up the leaderboard.

At the end of the regatta Dimitri Stevens was an impressive 2nd place overall behind the Champion “Juanky” Perdomo of Puerto Rico. Top Canadian was Julien Fougere from the Chester Yacht Club who finished in 4th place. Rahiem Steede climbed steadly throughout the regatta to12th place overall followed by Terreko Wilson in 15th. Next came Sam Stan in 23rd (4th in Blue fleet age group), Michael Barit 38th, Ellie Wollmann 52nd, and Ceci Wollmann 68th and (2nd in White fleet age group). In the 30 boat Green Fleet eight year old Mikey Wollmann placed 2nd, Brandon Simmons 6th, Caleb Simmons 18th and Chase Cooper 26th. Overall it was a fantastic showing by the whole team.

The surprise of the regatta occurred during the prize-giving when the entire team was presented with the annual Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association Sportsmanship Award, a large bronze sculpture normally presented to an individual meeting the criteria. The Bermudians impressed the organizers and their fellow sailors with their friendliness, manners, sailing ability, determination and overall great sportsmanship. By the end of the regatta everyone at the event had a “Feel the Love” rubber bracelet courtesy of the Bda Dept of Tourism. Our presence was known both on and off the water. The Lunenburg Yacht Club executed a flawless event assisted by dozens of volunteers who worked tirelessly to make sure nothing was left to chance (except the weather). They entertained the sailors and parents off the water with numerous activities and dinners including an evening at the Lunenburg Fisheries Museum and Aquarium.

2008 420 Nationals

Bermuda Sailing Association @ Mon Aug 18 15:20:00 +0100 2008

Skipper Joshua Greenslade and crew Blake Burgess won the 2008 420 Nationals qualifying them for the 2009 ISAF Youth Worlds in Buzios, Brazil. The boys recently returned from the 2008 ISAF Youth Worlds in Denmark where they competed in the 29er, a high-performance dinghy. Optimist star, James Anfossi and crew Johnny Norfleet took second while brothers Jason and Jordan Saints finished third.

The racing was close and very competitive as the regatta attracted a record of 17 boats to the start line, and as an added bonus, the sailors enjoyed excellent weather with constant sunshine and a moderate southwesterly breeze. Unfortunately, several boats suffered from structural breakdowns during the two-day event, but the competitors remained in high spirits nonetheless.

See results: http://www.bermudasail.bm/documents/420Results2008.pdf

2008 Bermuda Laser Nationals

Bermuda Sailing Association @ Tue Aug 12 15:07:00 +0100 2008

Malcolm Smith topped Brett Wright to win the 2008 Laser Class Bermuda
Nationals using the ultimate tie-breaker- whoever wins the last race
wins the series- and Smith finished first in that final race with Stevie
Dickinson pushing Wright into third.

After eight long races over two days in draining 15-20 knots winds,
Smith and Wright were tied not only on points, but also on the same
number of first places, second places etc..

All American doublehanded sailor Jesse Kirkland (20) was third just two
points ahead of youth sailor William Hutchings (17) recently returned
from the ISAF Youth Worlds.

Kirkland started the second day with a first and second, but struggled
for fitness as the day progressed. “Malcolm told me before that last
race that he needed to put a boat between himself and Brett. I told him
that it wouldn’t be me. I was busted”.

Meanwhile Rockal Evans is sitting in 39th place out of 76 competitors at
the US Nationals in Long Beach, CA..

For 2008 Laser National Results:http://www.bermudasail.bm/documents/ResultsStandardRigNationals2008.pdf

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