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 |