Optimist Open at Chichester Yacht Club

by Mark Green 2 May 2021 21:13 BST 1 May 2021

As the competitors arrived at CYC there was a downpour of hail and sleet on the approach to Chichester. Once at the club the competitors rigged and distributed themselves between the clubs two beaches.

The Race Officer Richard Anderton had already shared the briefing over YouTube, and the course over WhatsApp. As the start time approached the rain passed and the sky started to brighten. As the 29 competitors made their way to the start line on the opposite bank of CYC's lake, there was just enough wind for a rectangular course to be laid.

In race one, the boats all got away cleanly and started beating toward the windward mark. Leo Gosling from Royal Lymington had already established a lead at the first mark and began to extend it as he led the fleet to the second mark. He was followed by Jonny Rogers, also from Lymington, with Freya Hutchinson finishing third. The first race was shortened after two laps with some boats finished at the second mark as the wind dropped.

In race two, Leo Gosling led the fleet home, followed by Ewan Hamilton from Newhaven & Seaford, and Freya Hutchinson, another sailor from the strong Royal Lymington team.

Race three confirmed Leo as the overall winner with 3 wins out of 3. Second place went to Toby Vincent from Newhaven & Seaford, followed by Jonny Rogers from Royal Lymington.

When the series results were calculated the overall winners were all from Royal Lymington, first was Leo Gosling, second was Jonny Rogers, and third was Freya Hutchinson. Newhaven's Toby Vincent finished fourth and Ben McEwen from Royal Lymington finished fifth.

Thomas Knight and Nicholas Anderson from Chichester Yacht club both had very encouraging results finishing 10th and 16th.

The Prize Giving was conducted outside the club with the winners presented with engraved paper weights by the Race Officer and CYC's Rear Commodore Karen Cheeseman.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1st	6495	Leo Gosling	RLymYC	‑1	1	1	2
2nd	6271	Jonny Rogers	RLymYC	2	‑4	3	5
3rd	6519	Freya Hutchinson	RLymYC	3	3	‑4	6
4th	6019	Toby Vincent	Newhaven & Seaford SC	8	‑22	2	10
5th	5995	Ben McEwen	RLymYC	‑17	5	6	11
6th	6432	Ed Upton‑Brown	Bosham SC	5	6	‑9	11
7th	6231	Ewan Hamilton	Newhaven & Seaford Sailing Club	‑11	2	10	12
8th	6190	Felix Gladman	Bosham Sailing Club	6	‑11	8	14
9th	5892	Felix Howe	RLymYC	‑12	10	5	15
10th	6298	Thomas Knight	CYC	9	8	‑12	17
11th	5830	William Hutchinson	RLymYC	4	14	‑16	18
12th	6051	Laszlo Drummond	RLymYC	7	‑15	13	20
13th	5844	Lizzie hudson	RLymYC	14	7	‑15	21
14th	5286	Harry Whelan	WWSC	10	‑12	11	21
15th	6323	Faser Hakes		‑19	17	7	24
16th	5072	Nicholas Anderson	CYC	‑23	13	14	27
17th	5946	Lauren Barber	Royal Southern Yacht Club	22	9	‑26	31
18th	5614	Elsie Upton‑Brown	Bosham Sailing Club	13	‑20	18	31
19th	5426	Ruby Callaghan	RSrnYC	15	18	‑23	33
20th	6320	Caedon Faulkner ‑ Leask	RSrnYC	‑21	16	17	33
21st	5115	Scarlett Gladman	Bosham Sailing Club	16	‑23	21	37
22nd	5003	Angus Everest	Spinnaker Sailing Club	18	‑26	20	38
23rd	5251	Sam Armstrong Rowland	RSYC	‑24	19	19	38
24th	4995	Olaf Storton	Bosham	20	21	‑22	41
25th	4907	Isla Hutchinson	RLymYC	‑25	24	24	48
26th	6302	Tom Keegan	Parkstone Yacht Club	‑26	25	25	50
27th	6397	Darcy ODonnell	Royal Southern Yacht Club	27	‑28	27	54
28th	6450	Rory Armstrong	Royal Southern YC / Warsash SC	‑28	27	28	55
29th	6444	Samuel Machell	HISC	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	64
29th	6299	Freddie Pank	CCSC	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	64
29th	5665	Ludo Kameen	Bosham SC	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	64