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Queen Charlotte YC looking forward to InterIslander Optimist Challenge

by Christel Hopkins 5 Feb 2018 20:03 GMT 16-18 February 2018
2018 Optimist Pre-Nats and Nationals at QCYC © Christel Hopkins

On 16 to 18 February the InterIslander Optimist Challenge & Port Marlborough Starling Championship once again takes over the Picton Harbour waters.

The Optimist challenge is a ranking regatta for optimist sailors and will also provide a challenge between the North and South Island, with a trophy up for grabs. The South Island definitely faces a challenge, as most sailors will be from the North Island and all top Optimist sailors will be there. The Port Marlborough Starling champs is part of the Starling Travellers Series and again, no top sailors want to miss this one. Around 180 sailors and their coaches, support crew and family will descend on Picton this weekend.

Even though the QCYC base was recently damaged by the "Blue Moon" storm, she will be ready for this event. The boatshed will convert into a beachside café. The club canon will be fired at nine o'clock am on Friday morning Feb 16 to open the event officially. After that the Open Optimist fleet and the Starling fleet will head out to the outer Harbour to start Racing. They will race for three days. The Optimist Green and Rainbow fleets will race only on Sat and Sun. Their racing will be in front of the club and Shelly beach for everyone to see.

QCYC will host the famous "Taste of Marlborough" for competitors and their crew, showcasing a lot of Marlborough's produce.

QCYC members and other volunteers will make sure the regatta will run like clockwork.

There will be junior sailors from QCYC in each fleet. Learn to Sail graduates in the Rainbow fleet. Second year sailors in the Green fleet and the more competitive ones in the Open optimist and Starling fleets.

Watch out for QCYC sailor Emily Overend in the Starling fleet. The highest ranked QCYC sailors in the Open fleet will be Louie Poletti and the Hopkins brothers, River and Moss.

One thing is certain. It is a lot of work, but it will be a lot of fun!

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