Optimist Midland Travellers Series at Staunton Harold Sailing Club
by Paula Irish 15 Jun 2016 14:12 BST
11 June 2016
Optimist Midland Travellers at Staunton Harold © Zoe Felton
Despite a poor forecast, 18 Optimist sailors turned up at Staunton
Harold SC for the second open in the Midland Optimist traveller
series. Doubtful that there was going to be any sailing, the club was
suddenly a hive of activity at 10:30 as the wind kicked in enough to
get racing.
The first race got underway with a few boats deciding to hug the
committee boat. Home sailor Tara Ewbank had a brilliant start, leading
the way before being caught by compatriot Oliver Hamilton. Banbury's
George Eames-Matthews chased him down to beat him across the line.
Race 2 followed, still with light airs. This time it was the usual
suspects battling it out - George, Millie Irish (Draycote) and Jacob
Felton (Staunton Harold), along with Hazel McDonnell (Hollowell), who
took the race win.
The afternoon's racing saw the breeze increase and become more shifty.
The close racing continued. George took two bullets to win overall
counting three 1sts. Millie finished top three in both afternoon races
to take 2nd place overall.
Jacob almost had a brilliant start in race
3 but was just slightly too early, so had to return to the line. Despite this he worked hard to come back to 6th, finishing in 3rd
overall, counting all 3rds. Derin Can Soyer (Draycote) joined in with
the action to get a 2nd and 4th, with Hazel still up there too.
Further down the fleet, there were pockets of close competition across
all four races, with sailors popping up into the leading pack to have
their moment.
Thomas Kelsall (Staunton Harold) battled competitively with some of
the main fleet sailors in his first Oppie open to take 1st Regatta
fleet.
Next up on the Optimist traveller circuit in the Midlands is Hollowell
open meeting on Saturday 2nd July followed by the Midland Area
Championship at Draycote Water on Saturday 9th July.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Fleet | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Main | 5995 | George Eames‑Matthews | Banbury SC | 1 | ‑4 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2nd | Main | 6365 | Millie Irish | Draycote SC | ‑8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 3rd | Main | 5722 | Jacob Felton | Staunton Harold SC | 3 | 3 | ‑6 | 3 | 9 |
| 4th | Main | 4443 | Hazel McDonnell | Hollowell SC | ‑11 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 |
| 5th | Main | 6206 | Derin Can Soyer | Draycote SC | ‑12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| 6th | Main | 4568 | Oliver Hamilton | Staunton Harold SC | 2 | 5 | ‑8 | 7 | 14 |
| 7th | Main | 4911 | Oscar Cawthorne | Shustoke SC | ‑15 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 19 |
| 8th | Main | 4732 | Ellen Morley | Hollowell SC | 6 | ‑10 | 5 | 9 | 20 |
| 9th | Main | 5735 | Scarlett Cawthorne | Shustoke SC | 5 | 8 | ‑9 | 8 | 21 |
| 10th | Main | 5555 | Ralph Cawthorne | Shustoke SC | 9 | 9 | 12 | (DNC) | 30 |
| 11th | Main | 5959 | Keiran Bray | Banbury SC | 10 | ‑12 | 10 | 12 | 32 |
| 12th | Main | 5566 | Iris Singleton | Hollowell SC | 4 | 15 | ‑17 | 14 | 33 |
| 13th | Main | 5215 | Harry Marlow | Shustoke SC | ‑17 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 33 |
| 14th | Main | 6089 | Tara Ewbank | Staunton Harold SC | 7 | ‑14 | 14 | 13 | 34 |
| 15th | Regatta | 6043 | Thomas Kelsall | Staunton Harold SC | ‑14 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 36 |
| 16th | Main | 4983 | Aimee Bray | Banbury SC | 13 | ‑16 | 15 | 15 | 43 |
| 17th | Regatta | 5388 | Lucas Wickwar | Staunton Harold SC | 16 | ‑17 | 16 | 16 | 48 |
| 18th | Regatta | 5231 | Josh Freeman | Blithfield SC | ‑18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 53 |