Berthon Marina Optimist open meeting at Royal Lymington Yacht Club

Berthon Marina Optimist open meeting at Royal Lymington © Vicky Leen

This last weekend, the RLymYC hosted their annual Oppie Open sailing event, for all optimist sailors around the country, who came to Lymington to contest for this traditional trophy.

It was a superb weekend with all sorts of sailing conditions, from light winds to over 23 knots. Very tidal, as characteristic from the Solent. Both the Worlds and European GBR teams were down here to train for their events in Antigua and France, which made the regatta's level very high and demanding. The event was sponsored by Berthon Marina (and thanks to Dominic May) and supported by Coffee Mongers Roasting Company (thanks to Brooke El-Khazindar) and New Forest Ice Cream. The Event also had the presence of SAS Plastic Free Lymington, led by Christine Spriter.

There were 85 competitors from Main and Regatta Fleet.

Under the expert command of Race Officer George Heathcote, the Main Fleet completed three races on Saturday, with very challenging weather conditions, shifty and light winds together with tide. Regatta Fleet completed five races.

At the end of Saturday there was a clear lead from Lymington local Santiago Sesto-Cosby yet all top sailors were able to claim the cup, given their skills, ability and closeness in points. On Sunday the wind was strong in the morning, with gusts of over 35 knots. This was enough to have all the younger sailors upside down, so Regatta Fleet made the difficult decision to come back ashore. In the meantime, the Main Fleet found the strong conditions ideal for sailing and training with more choppy seas and wind against tide.

This fleet completed five further fantastic races on Sunday, with the last two, being moved further out towards Yarmouth to give the sailors a race course with more waves and tide, to challenge them and to train for their wavy International sea events ahead. Santi won the event outright, was first boy and top Lymington Sailor, despite starting with a wobbly 23rd place on the first race on Sunday, which meant Hayling Island Sailor Kuba Staite got closer and his life-long friend Henry Heathcote (who had a spectacular last race win) was catching up too. He had won two races, had a second, two thirds, a fifth and a seventh, which put him in first place with 22 points, ahead of Kuba (25 points) and Henry, who was third with 31 points.

The event was organised by RLymYC Feet Captains Richard Breese and Valeria Sesto, the Safety Leader Joff McGill and PRO George Heathcote. On the water team was competed by Pin Boat Ben Vines and Mark Layers Gen and Ed Webb. Clive Cosby was Regatta Fleet PRO, supported by GBR former Olympian Sarah Gosling. Vicky Leen was the event lead from the Club team.

The Prize Giving took part on the balcony of the RLymYC and the prizes were given out by the two current top British 420 sailors who are going to the Youth World Championships for GB this year, Lymington's William Heathcote and Haydn Sewell (who was coaching the Lymington fleet this weekend).

Berthon Marina Optimist open meeting at Royal Lymington - photo © Vicky Leen

Main Fleet Results:

The overall Winner was Santiago Sesto-Cosby, also winning the top boy prize and the trophy for the top Lymington Sailor.
Youngest Sailor: Leo Gosling
Johnny Marshall Trophy: Main Fleet, First Girl overall Arwen Fflur
Pom Green Trophy: Main Fleet First Optimist age 12 years and under Johnny Sargent
Salterns Trophy: Main Fleet First Optimist age 10 years and under Lila Edwards
Yachtmail Trophy: Regatta Fleet winner Ocean Hughes
Lymington's Emma Breese was the top Junior girl

Regatta Fleet Results:

First Youngest Sailor and third boy overall: Leo Gosling, RLYC
First Girl and second overall: Ella Cumming, Warsash Sailing Club

Berthon Marina Optimist open meeting at Royal Lymington - photo © Vicky Leen