Optimist Joint Squads Weekend at the WPNSA
by Alan Williams 25 Mar 2015 13:22 GMT
21-22 March 2015
Optimist National Squads © Alan Williams
The weekend of 21 & 22 March was 'spring like' at WPNSA in Weymouth, and nearly 70 Optimist sailors, their parents and coaches came together for the annual joint squads weekend.
Saturday was sunny with a brisk oscillating northerly breeze. The morning training was in squad groups, and then the sailors came together in 2 groups to compete in short course racing around a windward leeward course.
The afternoon saw fleet racing with 3 races held in challenging conditions- what phase was the wind in off the start line, was the left the preferred side, blocks of wind coming down the course, and how to approach the windward mark without over standing or coming in on a header- similar challenges to the Laser sailors at their qualifier in the bay.
Sophie Holloway made the best of the afternoon with three 5th places.
What was usual about the racing was that there was no coaching and the sailors had to organise themselves- which worked well for the afternoon.
Sunday was a much lighter day with very large shifts, the race team managed race 4, and then the 5th race was finished at the windward mark. We returned to the Academy alongside the Lasers who were returning from the bay after a morning on no sailing.
There was some excellent racing with matt Beck being most consistent. Race winners included Will Hall, Harris Cartwright, Rhys Lewis, Oliver Hill and Phoebe LE Marquand.
Sunday afternoon was a team racing competition which saw Will Hall and Ciaron Jones come out on top after a 40 race series.
Thanks to WPNSA, the parents for helping to organise things, the race team led by Oliver Shonrock and Simon Rogers, Andrew Beck for doing the results, and John Rayner for being the Jury. Finally thanks to the coaches for organising a great winter of training.
The Optimist have their Spring Championships this weekend in Poole and then we have sailors attending The Easter internationals in Holland and Lake Garda- good luck to all.
Overall Results:
1st Matt Beck (winner of the National Squad Cup)
2nd Will Hall
3rd Julia Mellors
9th Ellen Main (winner of Intermediate Squad Cup)
25th San Kneale (winner of the Development Squad Cup)
The Spinnaker Trophy, donated by the Gill-Taylors for the sailor who worked hard and lived up to the squad values most during the winter training, was awarded to Ellen Main.