AES BIIRW Optimist Regatta at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
by Nicole Butterworth 29 Apr 2013 20:55 BST
27-28 April 2013
Bermuda International Invitational Raceweek Optimist Regatta © Ben Nicholls
The prestigious Bermuda International Invitational Race Week included racing for Optimists for the first time in its history. The Optimist racing was sponsored by Alternative Energy Systems (Bermuda) Ltd. The regatta had 34 BER sailors entered, but with the expatriate and international make-up of the Bermuda Optimist fleet, the organisers added a bit of fun to the sailor's entries indicating 10 Nationalities were represented.
Winds were light on the first day of racing. This provided for an excellent introduction to racing for some of the younger sailors competing in the Silver Fleet for the first time. RBYC Sailing Academy Coach Tom Herbert-Evans was thrilled to see so many sailors taking to the water, "Our focus for junior sailing is always from the bottom up, we encouraged some of the stronger younger sailors to join this Regatta and made sure the Silver Fleet racing was appropriate for their ability levels and their age. I was thrilled to see so many smiling faces throughout the weekend."
Good sailing and good sportsmanship were a theme of the weekend; Tim Madeiros (CEO of sponsor AES) commented "I was on the Race Committee boat on Saturday and witnessed many good sporting gestures by the kids, I saw sailors congratulating each other and the top sailors having finished their races going to the back of the fleet and encouraging and helping the younger sailors to finish. It was a pleasure to witness and sets this event up for our much bigger plans for 2014."
Overnight leaders after 6 races on Saturday were Matilda Nicholls (Gold Fleet), Jay Hall (Silver Fleet), and Benn Smith (Combined Fleet races). The sailors were saw stronger winds on Sunday and PRO Charles Penruddocke decided to hold the racing in Granaway Deep. "We looked for more sheltered waters on Sunday and it was good to see all the Silver Fleet sailors come out to race on day 2. Towards the end of the day we saw a gust in excess of 20kts, but the 7 and 8 year olds coped admirably."
After 11 races, Chase Cooper lead in the Gold Fleet to become the BIIRW Optimist Champion, Bermuda's National Champion Benn Smith finished 2nd, Matilda Nicholls finished 3rd to become the BIIRW Optimist Junior Champion (12 and Under). In the Silver Fleet Jay Hall held on to his overnight lead with his twin brother Jah 2nd and 9 year old Christopher Adderley 3rd.
RBYC's Junior Committee representative Ben Nicholls said, "junior sailing was the winner this weekend, the kids were all very happy to have taken part for the first time in BIIRW. We are extremely grateful to AES for their sponsorship that enabled us to present many exciting prizes to the participants. After the success of this year, we are already making plans for this to be a much bigger event in 2014. The format works and the weather in Bermuda at this time of year is nearly always perfect for great sailing."
Awards
BIIRW Champion & 1st Gold Fleet: - Chase Cooper
BIIRW Junior Champion: - Matilda Nicholls
1st Silver Fleet: - Jay Hall
Age 13-15: Chase Cooper
Age 11-13: Matilda Nicholls
Age 9-11: Flo Nicholls
Age 8 & under: Sebastian Kempe
Most Improved: Tayte Stefaniuk
Best effort: Rian Geraghty-McDonnell
Youngest sailor: Rachel Betschart
Sportsmanship: Chase Cooper & Campbell Patton
Best Result from a Visiting Club: Liam Perry, East End Yacht Club
For more information please check the event website at www.biirw.bm