Bowmoor Sailing Club Optimist Open and YOO Youth Regatta
by Doug Roberts 8 Jun 2018 10:48 BST
2 June 2018
Yoo Youth Regatta at Bowmoor © Doug Roberts
Bowmoor SC "Oppie Camp" again saw children having a great time and some great coaching, and was followed on the Saturday by the club's Optimist Open and YOO Youth Regatta.
Over recent years the camp has expanded to include younger siblings in a pirates group and older children sailing Picos, Teras, Toppers, Fevas and Bytes. This year had 80+ children in 7 groups with 14 coaches, plus people organising archery, tie dying, water polo and sewing. Despite variable weather with light winds, sunshine and plenty of rain, everyone enjoyed themselves.
We had a visit from Ian Walker, Olympic silver medallist, America's Cup captain, winning Volvo Ocean Race skipper and now Director of Racing at the RYA, who gave a well-received talk to the children about his sailing career.
The sailors from camp were then able to put into practise their new skills at the open meeting which followed, joined by sailors from other clubs who had not attended camp.
The Optimist Open meeting for skilled helms attracted 22 sailors from a wide range of clubs and was won by Millie Irish (Draycote Water), followed by Ellen Morley (Hollowell) and Derin Can Soyer (also Draycote Water).
The regatta fleet attracted 13 entries and was won by Theo Smith (Barnt Green), followed by Milli Hartshorn and Esther Heathcote (both from Bowmoor).
The YOO youth regatta attracted 18 boats, with 9 different types of boat, and welcomed 6 visitors. It was won by Chris Hatton sailing an RS Aero 9, followed by Matt Banbrook, RS Aero 7 and Christian Conlan, RS Aero 9, all three from Bowmoor.
Overall Results: