Volvo Musto Optimist Selection Trials

Volvo Musto Optimist Selection Trials - Weekend 2

by IOCA (UK) - Jan Lasko 7 May 2005 09:53 BST 30 April - 2 May 2005

Action from the second Volvo Musto Optimist Selection weekend at Weymouth © Steve Bell / www.fotoboat.com

79 boats arrived at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy to complete their selection trials for the IODA World and European Championships over the weekend of April 30th – May 2nd.

The weekend did not begin well with heavy fog greeting the competitors on their arrival. It appeared as if the fog were starting to lift about 11 o’clock so the fleet launched, surrounded by the safety fleet. As the wind eased, so the fog started to lift. About twenty minutes later the breeze strengthened and brought in more sea mist. For safety reasons the fleet was sent ashore. At 3 o’clock the J24s abandoned for the day, but at 3:15, the sun started to burn off the cloud and the fleet launched for their first start at 16:10.

In a light southeasterly breeze the fleet got away on the first start with James Peters leading the fleet home ahead of Olivia Pettit, Aaron Smith, Lucy de Boltz and Imogen Stanley. With the pressure on to complete a minimum of 6 races this weekend, a second race was sailed in a Force 2/3.

Many of the sailors had now gotten into their stride, and going right to benefit from the lift under Porland Bill, James Grant showed his pace to finish ahead of Tim Saxton, Tom Willis and Philip Sparks.

As it had been a long day, with some of the sailors having arrived early that morning, the race team decided to send to fleet home for the evening in the hope of more racing in the days to come. The sailors returned ashore tired but satisfied that two races were now complete.

Sunday looked like a repeat of Saturday with heavy fog in the morning. The wind had now swung to the Southwest with a Force 2 - 3. At around 1 o’clock the fleet lauched in the clearing sky and managed to complete one race prior to the various competing breezes leading to a calm patch at the eastern half of Portland and opposite wind directions to the east and west of this. The third race saw Ben Saxton finish ahead of his brother Tim, and James Grant in third ahead of his brother David. After a lengthy delay on the water, the wind filled in from the Southwest and race 4 was sailed in the late afternoon. This time James Peters pulled out a large lead on Aaron Smith with Philip Sparks, Matthew Rainback and Claire Lasko all in the chasing pack.

Monday saw the start time brought forward. Unfortunately, although there was no fog in the morning, the wind initially was very fickle. The fleet was launched and the first race was started in a southwesterly F2. Within 5 minutes the boats on the left of the beat were on a run, and then slowed as the wind started to die. The race officer took the sensible decision of abandoning this race.

After a lengthy wait for the southwesterly to settle with a good force 3, three good races were sailed on Sunday. Race 5 saw James Grant collect his third win ahead of Matthew Rainback and Tim Saxton. Race 6 with the wind continuing to build was very much a rerun of the previous race with the port side of the course having more pressure. Tim Saxton finished first ahead of James Peters and Philip Sparks.

The final race saw 5 sailors competing for 4 places in the Worlds Team and it was similarly close for European Team places. The wind for the final race of the series was now at F4 from the southwest. After a good start by many of the contenders, Olivia Pettit rounded the windward mark ahead of Aaron Smith and Adrian Clay. By the finish the experienced sailors had managed to gain some ground on the leaders with Aaron winning just ahead of Ben Saxton and Claire Lasko, who had a tacking duel to the finish line. Hannah Diamond finish just ahead of Adrian Clay and Olivia Pettit.

Over 13 races, consistency was the key, and Ben Saxton, retained the Musto trophy which he had won last year.

The first ranking event for the 2006 IOCA Optimist National and Intermediate squads will be sailed at the Volvo Musto Optimist Inland Championships to be held at Grafham Water on the 14/15 May 2005.

Overall Results:

1. Ben Saxton – 34pts
2. Tim Saxton – 49pts
3. Imogen Stanley – 91pts
4. Matthew Rainback – 93pts
5. Owain Matthews – 96pts
6. Hannah Diamond – 116pts
7. Philip Sparks – 122pts
8. Claire Lasko – 126pts
9. James Peters – 133pts
10. Frances Peters – 134pts

Full results are available on www.optimistsailing.org.uk

The following sailors will represent Great Britain at the IODA World Championships in Switzerland:

Owain Matthews, Matthew Rainback, Ben Saxton, Tim Saxton, Imogen Stanley The following sailors will represent Great Britain at the IODA European Championships in Poland: