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GBR Optimist Selection Trials at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

by Sharon Davidson-Guild 9 May 2019 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."

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."

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."

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12Pts
16520Kuba STAITEHISC91235347644261877
26519Henry HEATHCOTERLymYC1282281425133183790
36516Ben MUELLERRLymYC1510104251461381325127
46393Terry HACKERHunts SC 219571323232032836134
56550Finian MORRISPapercourt 4316101235482812529149
66518Ollie MEARSCorinthian Otters5021UFD58151341430151
76521Santiago SESTO COSBYRoyal Lynington YC16UFD3271232425173157
86547Megan FARREREmsworth319172311111512572523168
96542Arwen FFLURPwllheli SC1851819653511161556175
106098George CREASYWest Kirby Sc491148241630101932219175
116430Edward COADYDRSC203012437191315827352188
126495Sam WEBBRoyal Lymington10439241760437159249201
136336Finlay CRAIGENRsrnyc5203235485327182684205
146156Rory GIFFORDRoyal TAY YC162392955492425611141207
156549Jamie WILKINSONHISC7617915752119203838207
166400Henry KEEGANParkstone2965202029291045513113214
176481Mathias POTTERWarsash SC6162567233161432232220218
186471Ella LANCEHISC4249221216981210292143224
196544Oscar MORGAN‑HARRISOTHER13381561830222065401014226
206527Ella LIGHTBODYRLymYC8464415103231725244928243
216517Robert MAWDSLEYHISC541811342123552723141711253
226548Josh LYTTLEDatchet Water SC721UFD162210331631442942271
236505Cameron BLAMEYRvyc59371325143716195622326277
246452Nick EVANSOTHER702616UFD412916474355289
256541Huw FARMERLlangorse SC26224219341592252105151301
266354Ellie CREIGHTONTBA14143833443938383043131310
276530Noah EVANSRLymYC 41283039372834243619926310
286446Johnny SARGENTEmsworth SC75483727404512331151640314
296398Jamie GATEHOUSEBBSC275327303844393613451110320
306269Alexander COGAN SIVARAJANClyde Cruisingc2871814613257645422724324
316412Freya SEWELLWest Kirby SC404724182524143139356337334
326503James GIFFORDRoyal TAY YC324414111118173040706949335
336404Annabelle VINESRLymYC44533363048214126302350337
346515Maya BROWNDatchet WSC333421174336202929583745344
354443Hazel MCDONNELLHollowell2335521325953551855475367
366470Charlie GATEHOUSEBBSC34057315156365427332016367
376371Joey TAYLORBlackwater SCUFD1719411913373269493635367
386531Finn EVANSRLymYC 372931466633463773264217410
396346Emma BREESERLymYC51704337366656442251834412
406478Felicity BRELLISFORDCorinthian Otters61604022617285043643453414
416431Emily SCHONROCKRYA395041264626352638415958426
426128Freddie WESTWELLBBSC4745232845254723DNF74678432
436447Abi COWLEYKielder Water SC665428132020193949696264434
446401Toby ALDOUSPapercourt SC361550385350BFD6833175321434
456510Archie MUNRO‑PRICECcsc 304329475762616235345015463
466467Oliver VINESRLymYC654253573546482163542627472
476328Angus BEALECorinthian Otters622465615947626014481232481
485790Patrick BROMILOWWKSC176826556255715637395622493
496386Laura ELMSHayling Island SC564166523122265868563971515
506535Ewan PLOWDEN‑WARDLAWCBYC5836355933422943714664DNC516
516506Derin can SOYERDraycote Water SC345546424127496770527744527
526194Will MEARSCorinthian Otters55254845DNC6764722485765530
536266Agnes BRACEY‑DAVISRLymYC603334445251184772617359531
546327Joseph JONESBurghfield SC193571646372596555214141534
556167Katy JENKINSBowmoor SC646945483921634957604460550
566070Matthew BOTTENBBSC386136586043312859637574551
576405George STEWARTKielder Water SC633956695063424258533354553
585752Matthew MASONBurghfield SC523252407164667046287239560
596350Lila EDWARDSParkstone YC21637273727170714776012566
606444Gwen SARGENTEmsworth736649542652413474715446566
614732Ellen MORLEYHollowell747462494254585745624833584
626485Freddie FITZSIMMONSRLymYC485254705841BFD4860434566585
636043Thomas KELSALLStaunton Harold SC4327DNF74DNFDNCDNCDNC41251948589
646235Molly DOWSON MCGILLRoyal Lymington YC577159322834BFD5950687061589
656456Sam BAKERBBSC11DSQ51686561606617754672592
665736Tilly REYNOLDSCardiff Bay YC536763515438505276665547596
676342William MOSSBarnt Green SC351361606969445364677662597
686304Charlie HOWARDBurghfield SC22566962DNFDNCDNCDNC7593069608
696209Charlotte ALLENDabchicks RHS7262475047406751487252DNC608
706429David BROMILOWWKSC677364714957454062366563619
716449Samuel GRIFFITHSRLymYC685960656468686121506657639
726363Emma RENNIEParkstone YC69DNCDNCDNC5670516351374052645
736490Edward DAYReading SC455758636865404675767170658
745995Angus MCEWENPapercourt SC467270567058656967317467671
756272Tabitha DAVIESRLymYC255873727375547444736168675
766146Gareth JONES‑DAVIESPwllheli YC24646853DNC73DNCDNC666558DNC705
776297India LANCEHISC717567666774697353776873756

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