Optimist Selection Trials at the WPNSA
by Alan Williams 8 May 2014 08:13 BST
2-5 May 2014
Racing in the bay in the Optimist Selection Trials © Alan Williams
82 of GBR's top Optimist sailors were invited to the 4 day annual Selection Trials which were held in Weymouth to compete for the honour of representing GBR in the Optimist Worlds in Argentina, Europeans in Ireland, French Nationals and the Flanders teams.
These young sailors are walking in the footsteps of the likes of Ainslie, Percy, Simpson, Clarke, Thompson, Mills, Patience, Rogers, Saxton, Weguelin, Dobson, Peters, and many others who have been at the forefront of British Sailing.
While some sailors are in the frame competing for the main team places, for many sailors this event is all about developing racecraft against the best, following routines, dealing with the pressure of a big event and having realistic expectations – as well of course of having a lot of fun.
Friday
We had 2 races in the harbour in an oscillating shifty breeze from the North East which really tested the sailors skills.
The only really consistent sailors were Chris Jones from Pwllheli who scored a 1,3 and Benno Marstaller from Restronguet with a 3,4, everyone else struggled including the race officer Stog who had to abandon 2 races close to the windward mark following 45 degree shifts.
Saturday
This was a long sunny but slightly chilly day afloat- 9 hours; however as everyone had support afloat and it was only 5-6 knots, it was just like going for a long watery picnic.
The armada of optimists were towed out into Weymouth bay and 3 races were held in a sloppy 4-6 knot south easterly direction. Most sailors found it a real challenge to be consistent but Vita Heathcote scored a 6,1,6, Benno 2,8,3 Hatty Morsley a 3,2,and an oops 47, and Will Hall 13,1,6.
Harris Cartwright from Loch Lomond would also have had a great day but for 2 black flags, and Jonny Thompson scored a bullet.
The wind then swung around to the south and the fleet moved position to be closer to Portland harbour where race 6 was slotted in in peculiar conditions – waves moving right to left with a light breeze coming down the course. Rhys Lewis scored the bullet, followed by Hamish Taylor in 2, Benno in 3 and Sophie Holloway in 4.
It wasn't a day for the bigger sailors- they all struggled to get through the sloppy chop. Pippa Cropley managed 2 top 10's and Milo scored a creditable 5th but that was about it.
Sunday
The wind was light in the morning so the racing was postponed to see how many sailors could injure themselves in the dinghy park. Fortunately when the AP was lowered everyone was still uninjured and the fleet was towed out into the bay again. One race was run in the bay and then the fleet relocated to the harbour where the wind coming from about 160 degrees and increased to about 9kts. For the first time in the Selections some of the bigger sailors got to sit on the rail while sailing upwind.
Vita score 2 bullets and a 14, Benno a 2,4,4 Morsley 3,16,3 and Hall 10,7,6. Other notable results from the day included Alex Smallwood 7,2, Julia Mellors scored a bullet to add to those she picked up in Holland over Easter. William Heathcote scored a 2 and Alex King showing how skilled he can be scoring 5,5.
At the end of the day Mrs Hill, our charming Beach Mistress who was also responsible for de-stressing the dinghy park helped the sailors back in, and Mrs Fry was seen moving trollies up and down the slipway whilst keeping her pristine white trousers immaculately clean.
Monday
Monday is always a big day. The second discard kicked in and we had 4 races to finish off the Selections.
Vita, Benno and Will Hall were already pulling away from the next group. Hatty Morsley had 2 big discards and Rhys Lewis, Ella Bennett and Alex Smallwood were all in the mix for the worlds team places.
The wind settled at about 150 degrees just left of the Bill. Race 10 was held in about 14kts so some of the bigger sailors put their feet under the toestraps.
Vita had a great day with a 5,2,1,3 to win the Trials from Benno who scored an uncharacteristic 19,5,5,4. Will Hall scored 9,1,7,1 – and at some stage he had an issue with his bailer whilst toileting which caused him to have a strange technique sailing upwind. It was a big day for Hatty M, having just come back from 11 days in Holland where she managed 4 black flags in 2 events. Hatty scored 2,22,2,2 the 22 left things hanging in the air and she needed a good last race to secure a worlds position. A well-executed start towards the pin in the last race secured a worlds place, along with Rhys Lewis who put in a steady performance and qualified just ahead of Alex Smallwood who was slightly off the pace on the last day.
Ella Bennett started the day well with a 3 and 4 but put herself in difficulty with a 53 in race 12 but an 11th in race 13 secured her a place in the girls Europeans team which she was delighted with.
Haydn Sewell had a great day scoring 7,13,3,13 to move into a Europeans place, Oliver Hill scored and bullet and an 8 to secure a Europeans place. Julia Mellors had an average day but secured a Europeans place, and Sophie Holloway scored and 8 and a 10 to take the 3rd girls Europeans place, leaving Pippa Cropley and Hattie Rogers who both had quite good last day's just outside the girls Europeans team.
Other notable results from the day where - Archie Leckie from Leigh and Lowton who scored a 6 and 8 and Ciaron Jones from Holyhead scoring a 3 and 5.
And what of Milo - well at twice the weight of Haydn Sewell, Milo did an extraordinary job of dealing with results he isn't used too, combined with some great results in light winds to secure a Europeans place. That was no mean feat and Milo kept a generally level head throughout the Selections which he had won the previous 2 years. Milo's first worlds was in New Zealand in 2011, then the Caribbean in 2012, Garda in 2013 and his Optimist career will finally come to an end at the Europeans in Dublin in 2014. Milo will be delighted to get into a Laser and be able to move about soon.
Special thanks to everyone who helped to make the Selections a success, including WPNSA who were very accommodating. Very special thanks to Frank and Jenny Newton and Pete and Catherine for keeping us sane on 'Sorebones' the committee boat. Thanks to the 'Stog' for being Race Officer and Steph Banham Chair of Selectors and David CJ for covering selection duties now that Duncan Truswell who was present on Friday, and has been Involved with the Class for many years has now moved onto heading up RYA Development and some peace from the Optimists.
The teams now go onto training for Championships and next meet up at Grafham for the Inlands in a couple of weekends time.
Teams:
Worlds Team (Argentina)
Vita Heathcote - Royal Lymington YC
Benno Marstaller - Restronguet/Mylor YC
Will Hall - Cardiff Bay YC
Hatty Morsley - Port Dinorwic SC
Rhys Lewis - Cardiff Bay YC
Europeans Team (Dublin)
Girls Team
Ella Bennett - Royal Lymington YC
Julia Mellors – Chichester YC
Sophie Holloway – Parkstone YC
Boys Team
Alex Smallwood - Datchet SC
Haydn Sewell - Royal London and Victoria YC's
Milo Gill-Taylor - Spinnaker SC
Oliver Hill - Royal Lymington YC
Development Team (France)
Jamie Harris - Bristol Corinthian
Harris Cartwright - Loch Lomond
Arthur Fry - RLYC
Rory Harper - Loch Lomond
Alexandra Schonrock - Parkstone YC
Charlotte Boyle - RLYC
Christopher Jones - Pwllheli SC
William Heathcote - RLYC
Flanders Team (Belgium)
Hamish Taylor - Clyde Cruising
Johnny Thompson - Frensham/RLYC
Archie Leckie - Leigh and Lowton SC
Mathew Leary - Cardiff Bay YC
Rosie Williamson - Bowmoor SC
Callum Cook - Nairn SC
Matt Beck - Bowmoor SC