GBR Optimist Selection Trials at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

by Sharon Davidson-Guild 9 May 18:23 BST

GBR Optimist Selection Trials in Weymouth © IOCA (UK)

What a difference a year makes! After very little wind and only five races in 2018, the 2019 Optimist Selection Trials completed all twelve scheduled races in the series with a mix of great sailing conditions.

The invitational GBR Team Selection Trials take place over four days each year, bringing together the country's top Optimist sailors to compete to represent Great Britain at international events each summer, including the Optimist World and European Championships.

This year 77 sailors arrived at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy hoping for good winds to provide competitive racing. Father and daughter Adrian and Ella Stoggall teamed up again this year to run the racing, with last year's roles being reversed with Ella taking the role of PRO and dad Adrian, her capable assistant!

The sailors shared WPNSA with many international teams who were competing in the 49er and Nacra European Championships the following week; it was inspiring for the younger sailors to see what they can move onto further into their sailing careers.

After the opening ceremony on Friday the sailors launched in moderately light winds to start the series of twelve races; as the day went on the winds picked up and the fleet completed four races with Santiago Sesto-Cosby claiming the first bullet of the trials.

A very windy Saturday had gusts of 30 knots providing challenging but perfect conditions for the competitors and another four races. Ben Mueller, who was selected for the Worlds Team, said: "Saturday was one of the best day's racing I've had in Weymouth because of the strong winds and waves."

GBR Optimist Selection Trials in Weymouth - photo © IOCA (UK)

GBR's Optimist team for the World Championships selected at the trials in Weymouth - photo © IOCA (UK)

With only four races to complete the series over the final two days the PRO delayed sailing on Sunday to allow the anticipated winds to fill in during the afternoon; three further races were sailed in moderate winds leaving the final race to be run, after a short delay on Monday, to complete the series. The final bullet was claimed by Rory Gifford.

Ann Whitfield, Chair of Selectors, said: "A full set of races over four days with a variety of wind direction and strengths was a test for each sailor's ability. We have excellent teams representing GBR at the international events over the summer and I wish them lots of luck."

GBR's Optimist team for the European Championships selected at the trials in Weymouth - photo © IOCA (UK)

Head coach Sarah McGovern commented: "It was an exciting Selections with close scoring points and the positions changing throughout the event; tricky to be consistent but those that did manage this were rewarded in their final positions. For a lot of the sailors the teams were decided on the last race which provided a nail-biting finish."

IOCA Chair, Sharon Davidson-Guild, said: "A lot of work goes into organising and putting on the Selections and after last year's event, where we struggled to get five races in, it was fantastic for the sailors to be able to complete the full series of races. A massive thank you to all the volunteers, who are vital to ensuring the success of our events, and to the sailors, who behaved impeccably on and off the water. I would like to wish each and every sailor success this summer."

GBR Optimist Development team selected at the trials in Weymouth - photo © IOCA (UK)

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	Pts
1	6520	Kuba STAITE	HISC	9	12	3	5	3	4	7	6	4	42	6	18	77
2	6519	Henry HEATHCOTE	RLymYC	12	8	2	2	8	14	25	13	3	18	3	7	90
3	6516	Ben MUELLER	RLymYC	15	10	10	4	2	5	1	4	61	38	13	25	127
4	6393	Terry HACKER	Hunts SC	2	19	5	7	13	2	32	3	20	3	28	36	134
5	6550	Finian MORRIS	Papercourt	4	31	6	10	12	35	4	8	28	12	5	29	149
6	6518	Ollie MEARS	Corinthian Otters	50	2	1	UFD	5	8	15	1	34	1	4	30	151
7	6521	Santiago SESTO COSBY	Royal Lynington YC	1	6	UFD	3	27	12	3	2	42	51	7	3	157
8	6547	Megan FARRER	Emsworth	31	9	17	23	1	11	11	5	12	57	25	23	168
9	6542	Arwen FFLUR	Pwllheli SC	18	51	8	1	9	6	5	35	11	16	15	56	175
10	6098	George CREASY	West Kirby Sc	49	11	4	8	24	16	30	10	19	32	2	19	175
11	6430	Edward COADY	DRSC	20	30	12	43	7	19	13	15	8	27	35	2	188
12	6495	Sam WEBB	Royal Lymington	10	4	39	24	17	60	43	7	15	9	24	9	201
13	6336	Finlay CRAIGEN	Rsrnyc	5	20	32	35	48	53	27	18	2	6	8	4	205
14	6156	Rory GIFFORD	Royal TAY YC	16	23	9	29	55	49	24	25	6	11	14	1	207
15	6549	Jamie WILKINSON	HISC	76	1	7	9	15	7	52	11	9	20	38	38	207
16	6400	Henry KEEGAN	Parkstone	29	65	20	20	29	29	10	45	5	13	1	13	214
17	6481	Mathias POTTER	Warsash SC	6	16	25	67	23	31	6	14	32	23	22	20	218
18	6471	Ella LANCE	HISC	42	49	22	12	16	9	8	12	10	29	21	43	224
19	6544	Oscar MORGAN‑HARRIS	OTHER	13	38	15	6	18	30	22	20	65	40	10	14	226
20	6527	Ella LIGHTBODY	RLymYC	8	46	44	15	10	3	23	17	25	24	49	28	243
21	6517	Robert MAWDSLEY	HISC	54	18	11	34	21	23	55	27	23	14	17	11	253
22	6548	Josh LYTTLE	Datchet Water SC	7	21	UFD	16	22	10	33	16	31	44	29	42	271
23	6505	Cameron BLAMEY	Rvyc	59	37	13	25	14	37	16	19	56	22	32	6	277
24	6452	Nick EVANS	OTHER	70	26	16	UFD	4	1	2	9	16	47	43	55	289
25	6541	Huw FARMER	Llangorse SC	26	22	42	19	34	15	9	22	52	10	51	51	301
26	6354	Ellie CREIGHTON	TBA	14	14	38	33	44	39	38	38	30	4	31	31	310
27	6530	Noah EVANS	RLymYC	41	28	30	39	37	28	34	24	36	19	9	26	310
28	6446	Johnny SARGENT	Emsworth SC	75	48	37	27	40	45	12	33	1	15	16	40	314
29	6398	Jamie GATEHOUSE	BBSC	27	53	27	30	38	44	39	36	13	45	11	10	320
30	6269	Alexander COGAN SIVARAJAN	Clyde Cruisingc	28	7	18	14	61	32	57	64	54	2	27	24	324
31	6412	Freya SEWELL	West Kirby SC	40	47	24	18	25	24	14	31	39	35	63	37	334
32	6503	James GIFFORD	Royal TAY YC	32	44	14	11	11	18	17	30	40	70	69	49	335
33	6404	Annabelle VINES	RLymYC	44	5	33	36	30	48	21	41	26	30	23	50	337
34	6515	Maya BROWN	Datchet WSC	33	34	21	17	43	36	20	29	29	58	37	45	344
35	4443	Hazel MCDONNELL	Hollowell	23	3	55	21	32	59	53	55	18	55	47	5	367
36	6470	Charlie GATEHOUSE	BBSC	3	40	57	31	51	56	36	54	27	33	20	16	367
37	6371	Joey TAYLOR	Blackwater SC	UFD	17	19	41	19	13	37	32	69	49	36	35	367
38	6531	Finn EVANS	RLymYC	37	29	31	46	66	33	46	37	73	26	42	17	410
39	6346	Emma BREESE	RLymYC	51	70	43	37	36	66	56	44	22	5	18	34	412
40	6478	Felicity BRELLISFORD	Corinthian Otters	61	60	40	22	6	17	28	50	43	64	34	53	414
41	6431	Emily SCHONROCK	RYA	39	50	41	26	46	26	35	26	38	41	59	58	426
42	6128	Freddie WESTWELL	BBSC	47	45	23	28	45	25	47	23	DNF	74	67	8	432
43	6447	Abi COWLEY	Kielder Water SC	66	54	28	13	20	20	19	39	49	69	62	64	434
44	6401	Toby ALDOUS	Papercourt SC	36	15	50	38	53	50	BFD	68	33	17	53	21	434
45	6510	Archie MUNRO‑PRICE	Ccsc	30	43	29	47	57	62	61	62	35	34	50	15	463
46	6467	Oliver VINES	RLymYC	65	42	53	57	35	46	48	21	63	54	26	27	472
47	6328	Angus BEALE	Corinthian Otters	62	24	65	61	59	47	62	60	14	48	12	32	481
48	5790	Patrick BROMILOW	WKSC	17	68	26	55	62	55	71	56	37	39	56	22	493
49	6386	Laura ELMS	Hayling Island SC	56	41	66	52	31	22	26	58	68	56	39	71	515
50	6535	Ewan PLOWDEN‑WARDLAW	CBYC	58	36	35	59	33	42	29	43	71	46	64	DNC	516
51	6506	Derin can SOYER	Draycote Water SC	34	55	46	42	41	27	49	67	70	52	77	44	527
52	6194	Will MEARS	Corinthian Otters	55	25	48	45	DNC	67	64	72	24	8	57	65	530
53	6266	Agnes BRACEY‑DAVIS	RLymYC	60	33	34	44	52	51	18	47	72	61	73	59	531
54	6327	Joseph JONES	Burghfield SC	19	35	71	64	63	72	59	65	55	21	41	41	534
55	6167	Katy JENKINS	Bowmoor SC	64	69	45	48	39	21	63	49	57	60	44	60	550
56	6070	Matthew BOTTEN	BBSC	38	61	36	58	60	43	31	28	59	63	75	74	551
57	6405	George STEWART	Kielder Water SC	63	39	56	69	50	63	42	42	58	53	33	54	553
58	5752	Matthew MASON	Burghfield SC	52	32	52	40	71	64	66	70	46	28	72	39	560
59	6350	Lila EDWARDS	Parkstone YC	21	63	72	73	72	71	70	71	47	7	60	12	566
60	6444	Gwen SARGENT	Emsworth	73	66	49	54	26	52	41	34	74	71	54	46	566
61	4732	Ellen MORLEY	Hollowell	74	74	62	49	42	54	58	57	45	62	48	33	584
62	6485	Freddie FITZSIMMONS	RLymYC	48	52	54	70	58	41	BFD	48	60	43	45	66	585
63	6043	Thomas KELSALL	Staunton Harold SC	43	27	DNF	74	DNF	DNC	DNC	DNC	41	25	19	48	589
64	6235	Molly DOWSON MCGILL	Royal Lymington YC	57	71	59	32	28	34	BFD	59	50	68	70	61	589
65	6456	Sam BAKER	BBSC	11	DSQ	51	68	65	61	60	66	17	75	46	72	592
66	5736	Tilly REYNOLDS	Cardiff Bay YC	53	67	63	51	54	38	50	52	76	66	55	47	596
67	6342	William MOSS	Barnt Green SC	35	13	61	60	69	69	44	53	64	67	76	62	597
68	6304	Charlie HOWARD	Burghfield SC	22	56	69	62	DNF	DNC	DNC	DNC	7	59	30	69	608
69	6209	Charlotte ALLEN	Dabchicks RHS	72	62	47	50	47	40	67	51	48	72	52	DNC	608
70	6429	David BROMILOW	WKSC	67	73	64	71	49	57	45	40	62	36	65	63	619
71	6449	Samuel GRIFFITHS	RLymYC	68	59	60	65	64	68	68	61	21	50	66	57	639
72	6363	Emma RENNIE	Parkstone YC	69	DNC	DNC	DNC	56	70	51	63	51	37	40	52	645
73	6490	Edward DAY	Reading SC	45	57	58	63	68	65	40	46	75	76	71	70	658
74	5995	Angus MCEWEN	Papercourt SC	46	72	70	56	70	58	65	69	67	31	74	67	671
75	6272	Tabitha DAVIES	RLymYC	25	58	73	72	73	75	54	74	44	73	61	68	675
76	6146	Gareth JONES‑DAVIES	Pwllheli YC	24	64	68	53	DNC	73	DNC	DNC	66	65	58	DNC	705
77	6297	India LANCE	HISC	71	75	67	66	67	74	69	73	53	77	68	73	756