Volvo Gill Optimist British and Open National Championships - Overall
by Amy Cada 9 Aug 2014 08:36 BST
2-8 August 2014
Vita Heathcote wins the Volvo Gill Optimist British and Open Championship in Weymouth © Peter Newton /
www.peternewton.zenfolio.com
The Volvo Gill Optimist British and Open Championship came to a close on Friday with the girls leading the results.
After a week of fantastic sailing in a range of conditions, light winds prevented any racing for the over 470 Optimist sailors on the final day of the event at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.
Following a successful week on the water, Vita Heathcote, 13 (Royal Lymington Yacht Club) took this year's Volvo Gill Optimist National Champion title in the Senior Fleet (Main), her second consecutive national title, having won last year's National Junior Fleet Championships in Largs.
Vita commented: "The competition was really tough this week, especially from the international sailors, and I had a hard time getting over one bad race midweek, but I am so excited to have won the nationals for the second year in a row. It is my first year in the Senior Fleet (Main), and I thought it would be really scary, but I actually felt really comfortable and I can't wait for next year."
Alexandra Schonrock, 12, (Parkstone Yacht Club) was a strong contender in the Junior Fleet, and having lead the British contingent of competitors for most of the week, the young sailor was able to successfully secure the National title in the Junior Fleet (Main).
Alexandra explained: "It is quite cool to have won the Nationals Junior Fleet (Main). It was hard there are two boys that I have been neck and neck with throughout my time in Oppies and they have been at my heels all week. That made me nervous, but fun to know I was ahead. I am so happy that it is two girls who have won the Senior and Junior Fleets (Main)."
Joshua Means, 11 (Norfolk Broads Yacht Club) claimed gold in the National Regatta Fleet, demonstrating a huge improvement in the consistency of his results over the course of the week. Florence Brellisford, 11 (Corinthian Otters) won the Regatta Coaching Fleet, impressively achieving five first place finishes out of eight races over the course of the week.
The week's event also saw a visit from sailing legend, Sir Ben Ainslie who spent some quality time with the next generation of British sailors.
Mark Lyttle, IOCA (UK) Chairman described the event: "We had a great week, the weather has been superb. Over 470 sailors, and many of them who have been at many of these events before, saying that this is one of the best they have ever attending. Thanks to our sponsors, Volvo Car UK, Gill, and all the sailors for helping to make this week such a success."
The Optimist is one of the most popular youth sailing classes in the world and is widely seen as the first competitive steps for many future Olympians. Notable names who started their sailing career in Optimists include four times Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie and Team Volvo's London 2012 silver medallist, Luke Patience.
This is the second annual event of the year that Volvo and Gill jointly sponsor, with the third being the Volvo Gill Optimist End of Season Championship, taking place at Rutland Sailing Club, 11th and 12th October 2014.
For full results and more information, visit the official event website www.kbsuk.com/optimist/iocaevents/index.asp?EventID=55.
All results are provisional and subject to possible protest.