IOCA North East Area Optimist Championship at Derwent Reservoir SC
by David Shilling 14 Jul 2015 14:46 BST
11-12 July 2015
Derwent Reservoir SC hosted the second annual event following last year at Kielder Water SC, where home sailor Luke Stewart was first to put his name on the silver plate. Three races were planned for Saturday and they ran like clockwork thanks to Giles Passmore's team including the trainee R.O. Howard Armstrong, also helped by a relatively stable 14-20mph breeze from the south west.
Ben Russell from Kielder quietly went about business taking 1st place from David Calder (a long distance traveller from Burghfield SC) who consistently took 2nds followed by Luke Stewart in third which he later used as a discard. Whatever happened to Luke in the first race; he quickly put behind him to take the next 3 bullets in the 2 day event.
The wind was a little strong for regatta fleet but all 7 launched to give it a go with George Stewart (Kielder) taking 1st place in the 3rd race to spoil Abi Cowley's (Kielder) run of firsts. Jonathan Dodd (Kielder) was a constant threat in the testing conditions and managed a string of 3rds.
After racing, while still in sailing gear, there was a messy team game combining main and regatta fleet sailors, in small groups this on and off the water game involving coke and Mentos brought the fleet together with much hilarity !
Then there was Bar Fly (Velcro wall) & BBQ in the lowering evening sun, followed by Derwent Reservoir SC's very first Carburettor Cup (soap box challenge) and with 14 junior entries this brought even more fun to an already great day.
Sunday brought a little more wind with 4 venturing out from the regatta fleet and little Pete Cowley (Kielder) bravely finishing 2 races while his big sister took 1st place in all 3 to win regatta fleet followed by George and Annabelle Scullion (Kielder) in 3rd place.
Main fleet saw changes in the top 3 finishers with Harry Myers (Derwent) breaking his previous days consistent 4ths with a 2nd, 8th and a 1st in the last race. Oscar and Seb Shilling, Ed Coady (all Derwent) and Patrick Beukenholdt (Scaling Dam SC) shared some good results but didn't manage to break into the top 3 at this event, as did Fintan Burke (Pennine SC) Liam Boyce (Scaling Dam) and Ted Gaukroger (Derwent) - but they did have some great battles!
Prize giving brought more excitement with a table full of great goodies thanks to Gill Marine and Harken UK. Ben took 3rd prize, David 2nd and Luke got to put his name on the plate for a second year running.
Prize giving brought more excitement with a table full of great goodies thanks to Gill Marine and Harken UK. Ben took 3rd prize, David 2nd and Luke got to put his name on the plate for a second year running.