Harken Optimist Regatta Fleet at Royal Lymington Yacht Club
by Jane Porter IOCA(UK) 20 Jun 2007 09:32 BST
16 June 2007
Apprentice dinghy racers rise to the challenge of strong winds and heavy downpours…
The Harken Royal Lymington YC Regatta Fleet Optimist Open, sponsored once again by Harken, took place amidst heavy downpours and gusts of well over 20 knots, on Saturday 16 June.
The International Optimist is a highly successful and competitive class for juniors – many of our top Olympic sailors started their racing careers in Optimists – and the sailing is to a very high standard despite the young age (8-15 years) of the competitors. The Optimist celebrates its Diamond Jubilee in 2007 and continues to attract and retain many talented young sailors through its training programme around the country.
The Harken Lymington Regatta Fleet Open was specifically planned to help the youngest and least experienced sailors get used to open sea and tidal conditions. The children were divided into groups, each with a qualified coach and a volunteer assistant coach (current or recent Lymington Optimist sailor) and with a ratio of almost 1 safety boat to 3 sailors.
With the weather conditions already living up to the forecast PRO Geoff Stock and Event Organiser Ros Urwin were taking no chances: after group briefings with their coaches the 52 sailors some as young as 8 years old, were guided down the river keeping well out of the way of the ferry, and into the relative security of Oxey Lake (usable at or close to high tide) where the tidal challenge at least would be minimised.
After one general recall (too many sailors not realising how quickly the tide would take them over the line!), 4 races were rattled off back to back to minimise the drop out rate: younger sailors tire quickly and many having capsized at least once, they were also in danger of getting cold. By the beginning of race 4 there were 20 de-rigged retiree boats in 2 lines attached to buoys, their owners safely in the motherships anchored just out into the Solent in the deeper water, and most of the coach ribs had necessarily turned temporarily into rescue boats.
However the majority of young sailors were still racing – some having retired from one race and then gone back in to join the fray - and most importantly, still smiling! Once ashore from the tricky downwind sail back to the club - with plenty more capsizes en route! - many positive reports were received back via parents from these plucky young sailors who had thoroughly enjoyed their experiences.
Overall winner was William Massey aged 10 from Royal Burnham Yacht Club, who kept his head through the 4 races – and with the help of his coach Greg Carey and assistant coach Olly Porter, visibly improved especially his downwind sailing through the day. It was really good to see how, despite the challenges on the water, the coaching could be seen to make a difference. Second was Hugo Andrews also aged 10 from Hayling Island Sailing Club. Magnus Lee (13) from Royal Lymington Yacht Club took third, and fourth overall and 1st girl was Anneloes Boers (12) from Holland who sails at Papercourt SC. Fifth was Olivia Burt (10) from Royal Lymington.
Other prizes were awarded for Sailing Achievement for perserverence (and again noticeable improvement through the day) to Sam Grigg (Royal Lymington) and Niall Houston (Hayling Island SC); Highly Commended awards went to Charlotte Bassett (Papercourt SC), Jack Parkin (Hayling Island), Harriet Ward (Warsash SC) and Caellagh Garrison (Salterns SC, Lymington). The “Lymington Achievers” Award went to Jessie Slater from Salterns SC and the Youngest Sailor to tiny Alex Smallwood from Wraysbury.
Prizes donated by Harken were presented by Marilyn Holmes, wife of Royal Lymington YC Commodore, with Andy Ash Vie from Harken standing by. Ros Urwin thanked the coaches and assistant coaches and the many volunteers including Royal Lymington members whose own children are long since grown up and gone, and especially those who had helped both at this event and also at last weekend’s Main Fleet Open – a total of 180 sailors having raced at Lymington over the 2 weekends! Thanks were also expressed again to Waitrose Lymington, who kindly provided on the water lunches for the safety fleet for both events.
Geoff’s and Ros’ verdict: “Fast and Furious! What a Brilliant Day for the youngsters!”