2016 Optimist Selection Trials at the WPNSA
by Alan Williams 7 May 2016 12:05 BST
29 April - 2 May 2016
Close finishes at the Optimist Selection trials © Alan Williams
Sailing in the footsteps of giants
The 2016 Trials took place at WPNSA over the bank holiday weekend. Nearly 80 invited sailors from all parts of England and Scotland and Wales descended on WPNSA for the 4-day trials for the honour of representing GBR at the Worlds, Europeans, French Nationals and Flanders. Only the top 5 sailors can attend the Worlds, and then 4 boys and 4 girls attend the Europeans, sailing against between 40-60 other countries.
Friday
Racing started at 1200, in a freshening westerly wind.
Race 1 saw Rhys Lewis state his intent with a bullet with Julia Mellers in 2 and Drew Wright in 3. Meanwhile Jamie Cook picked up a U flag disqualification.
Race 2 saw Jamie Cook take the bullet from Julia Mellers in 2, Rhys Lewis in 3 and Hannah Roberts–Straw in 4. Rhys came back from the teens at the gate to take advantage of a massive dark cloud which came down the right at the gate, giving a big lift on starboard and upto 30kts of breeze, which made for tough sailing for about half an hour.
By race 3 the breeze settled down again to 15-18kts from the west. Julia took the bullet, Drew Wright 2, Rhys Lewis 3. Kai Wolgram also had a consistent day scoring 6,6,8 and Ellen Main also scored 5,7,4.
Saturday
We had an optimistic forecast, sunny and a NW breeze to 15kts so the fleet made its way out into the Bay. Unfortunately although it remained mainly sunny, large clouds formed over Weymouth which made the wind go anywhere from 330 to 240 degrees. Over in the harbour there were no clouds, and a good sailing breeze so the fleet relocated to the harbour and had 4 great races in a westerly- the Ferry Bridge wind.
Julia Mellers scored 2,8,1,11. Rhys Lewis scored 62 in race 4 followed by 2,9,4. Archie Leckie, who had had a good day on Friday scoring 13,10,11, stated his intent with 2 bullets, 10 and 3. In race 7 Julia Mellers, Jamie Cook and Archie crossed the line together in a photo finish.
Jamie Cook stated his intent to make things hard for himself, and his dad with a black flag in race 4 followed by 3,3, and a bullet. Jamie would have to count the black flag in his final score, as it was a one-drop series. Kai Wolgram had a more challenging day and was going to have to dig deep on Sunday.
It was a long day out on Saturday but the sailors and support boats coped well in the warm spring weather.
Sunday
Sunday saw the wind come from the southwest at 14-18kts, and because the forecast looked poor for Bank holiday Monday the fleet again had 4 races.
Sunday was an opportunity for other sailors to shine too. A number of sailors thought that there would be compression and a bend off the Bill, but its didn't materialise, and the middle to middle right came out best.
Julia scored an uncharacteristic 28,19, and then came back with 2 and 2 to get back on track- that was enough to secure her place in the worlds team and lead the trials on count back. Rhys Lewis had a consistent 4,8,7,9 to stay in 2nd place. Jamie Cook, scored 8,13,3,4, to end up with one race to go just outside the worlds team.
Archie appeared to have a good day but was binned in race 8 following a protest when Archie got himself embroiled in a port and starboard issue. His other results were 12,6, and 26 leaving him in 3rd overall.
Kai Wolgram had a great day out and staked his claim to a worlds place on scoring 2 bullets, 5 and 8. William Heathcote also had a great day scoring 7,4,4,7 to stay in contention for a worlds place and William Pank scored 7,15,7,2 cementing his position in the Europeans.
Other sailors who sailed well on Sunday were Callum Cook 9,3,19,3, after a tough start to the trials. Oliver Dowson- Mcgill 2 in race 9, Finley Dickinson a bullet in race 10.
Monday
Julia, and Rhys were safe in the world's team but for everyone else, the final race on Monday, race 12 would be critical.
The wind was forecast to increase considerably but held off to 14kts at about 220 degrees with only 3-4 shifts upwind.
A great start from a square line gave everyone the opportunity to succeed.
A number of sailors weren't safe in Worlds or Europeans places and many needed a good last race.
The fleet were very close together at the windward mark; Julia, Rhys and Jamie cook led the way. Archie Leckie had to take a penalty off the line due to a port and starboard incident, but still managed to be up there at the windward mark. Kai and William Heathcote were also still in contention.
At the gate it was still all ok, but William hit the left into an area of unstable wind and was dumped from 12 to the 30's and he slipped out of the worlds team.
After an epic battle up the last windward leg to the finish, Jamie Cook took the win and in doing so snatched victory – well a world's team place at least, from the jaws of defeat.
Julia just about managed to control Rhys up to the finish to take the trials, and Archie had managed to recover from a 2 turn penalty off the start line to bag his place in the worlds team, and Kai had a sensible race, to make the worlds too.
Overall
Overall it was a great event with a lots of learning under pressure taking place for everyone, which saw many sailors having good days or good races- and racing was very close. The key of course was consistency which was really challenging to achieve.
Other sailors who had good days or races were Callum Davison Guild 4,5,1, Ella Lance 5 in race 9, Henry Heathcote 5 in race 6, Nicholas Host- Verbraak 3 in race 8
Hector Bennett 6,8,6.
Other sailors such as Cossie Lewis, Drew Wright, Scott Forbes, India Paige –Wood, Oliver Dowson –Mcgill 9,6,2, and Callum Cook who had 4 top 10's in the last 5 races to seal a Europeans place, and Ellen Main [who had some epic starts] also had a steady event.
Thanks to race officer 'the Stog', and assistants Peter and Catherine Jacobs, Henry the pin, and Frank and Jenny Newton.
Thanks also to Simon Cook the event coordinator, the support boats, safety fleet and parents who assisted with afloat, Milly and Sarah for results and Chair of Selectors Steph Banham.
A copy of the full results can be found at www.kbsuk.com/data/OptimistIOCAEvents/data/results/sel2016nh.html
Worlds Team - Portugal
Julia Mellers
Rhys Lewis
Archie Leckie
Kai Wolgram
Jamie Cook
Europeans Team - Italy
Boys Team
William Heathcote
Drew Wright
William Pank
Callum Cook
Girls Team
Hannah Roberts–Straw
India Paige-Wood
Cossie Lewis
Ellen Main
Development Team - French Nationals
Elizabeth BEARDSALL
Callum DAVIDSON-GUILD
Elodie EDWARDS
Scott FORBES
Barty GRAY
Phoebe LE MARQUAND
Emily MUELLER
Haydn SEWELL
Flanders Team
To be Finalised