Sunshine and celebrations launch 2018 Volvo Gill Optimist British National and Open Championships
by IOCA UK 6 Aug 2018 14:39 BST
4-10 August 2018
Sunshine, but not much wind on day 1 of the Volvo Gill Optimist British Nationals © Paula Irish
More than 370 young sailors representing over a dozen countries have descended on Plas Heli, Pwllheli, for the 2018 Volvo Gill Optimist British National and Open Championships.
The event officially launched on Sunday with a colourful parade of sailors and international flags, followed by an opening ceremony serenaded by a Welsh male voice choir. The occasion also included a Welsh poem read and translated by Welsh sailors Tasmyn Green and Callum Davidson-Guild to welcome the fleet and set the scene for the week.
The first day of racing saw PRO Ian Bullock and his team working hard to get a race away for the 154-strong main fleet, only to be thwarted by massive shifts in the sunny but fickle conditions, which saw a number of starts and two races abandoned. The 120-boat junior main fleet was likewise on the water but unable to get any racing.
The racing regatta fleet of 56 sailors and 41-boat coached regatta fleet had more luck, with up and coming Optimist sailors able to hone their skills on smaller courses closer to shore.
In total there are 371 sailors competing, including around 100 young helms from 13 different nations who have joined GBR's Optimist sailors to compete for the open title, attracted by the world class junior racing offered by the British national championships.
Overseas competitors include large teams from Ireland and the USA; a number of sailors from Bermuda, Spain, Hong Kong, the Cayman Islands and Australia; plus entrants from Holland, France, Belgium, South Africa, St Lucia and the Virgin Islands.
IOCA (International Optimist Class Association) UK is pleased to welcome back its 2017 national championship sponsors xtremity.net, J Sail, Jelly Belly UK and One Sails, who have joined for this event IOCA's regular class sponsors Volvo, Gill, IBI Racing Dinghies and Noble Marine, while new sponsors for the 2018 nationals include Marlow, P&B and HD Sails.
VR Sport is on the water and posting regular footage at vrsport.tv while Andy Green of Green Sea Photography is also capturing all the action, with photographs available to view at greensea.zenfolio.com
Racing continues through to Friday 10 August with more breeze forecast for later in the week. Follow all the latest news from the UK International Optimist Class Association on Facebook and Twitter @iocauk