IOCA GBR Optimist Selection Trials 2023 at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy
by Jane Saunders 23 May 2023 12:57 BST
Worlds Team - IOCA GBR Optimist Selection Trials at Weymouth © Sandy Ramus
The UK Optimist fleet held our 2023 selection trials at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy over the first May bank holiday weekend. This fleet consisted of the top 80 Optimist sailors in the country, while our younger sailors enjoyed themselves at the Eric Twiname Championships.
Held over a four-day long weekend, the Optimist fleet had the now customary light and shifty winds that seem to accompany the UK selection trials, but unlike last year we did manage nearly a full series of races! Two days were spent out in Weymouth Bay, which gave everyone a change of scenery, and some towing practice for both sailors and parents.
Thank you to all our helpers at the event, especially those brave souls who attended without bringing an Optimist sailor along.
Adrian and Ella Stogall did a great job as PROs, with a team of helpers on the committee boat and afloat including Keith and Liz Appleby, Henry Wright and Nick Sawyer, while Chris Atkins, Sian Reynolds, Will Davies and Nick Devereux kept the sailors in order on the water with their flags. Joff McGill and his rescue team kept everyone safe, while John Perham (IOCA), Ken, Sally and the WPNSA team ensured everything ran smoothly on shore. Many thanks everyone!
Well done to all our sailors, whatever your results at the event, here at IOCA UK we think you are all awesome! Best of luck to those moving onto new fleets - have a wonderful time in your future sailing adventures.
The teams selected were the following...
2023 Worlds Team (Costa Brava, Spain):
Eliana Edwards
Lila Edwards
Hugo Fletcher
Finn Ramus
Joe Wimpory
2023 Europeans Team (Thessaloniki, Greece):
Nia Byrne
Dylan Creighton
Hector Davies
Tabitha Davies
India Eastwood
Andrew Perratt
Jonny Rogers
2023 Development 1 Team (Montfalcone, Italy):
Thomas Dempsey
Harry Draper
Leo Gosling
Freya Hutchinson
Isla Hutchinson
Will McEwen
Wilbur Palmer Ward
Dirk Rogers
2023 Development 2 Team (Cascais, Portugal):
Ollie Atkin
Rachel Elms
Amelia Kent
Isla Hill
Jacob Jull
Noah Mathers
Callum Marshall
Pippa Shepherd
2023 Development 3 Team (French Coupe d'Ete, Perros-Guirec, Brittany):
Rory Armstrong
Sebby Bailey
Logan Brown
Henry Blades
Olivia Coady
Henry Cruse
Felix Garlick
Oscar Hoyle
Thomas Knight
Pippa Knights
Emily Leary
Edie Rogers
Patrick di Salle
Will Shaw
Alanna Starkie
2023 Junior Irish Team (Irish Nationals, Ballyholme, Northern Ireland) - Selected at the Spring Championships:
Natalie Ayling
Finley Browne
Kate Charlesworth
Ruby Coster
Stella Davey
William Fuller
Lochlyn Grant
Fraser Hakes
Lizzie Hudson
Freddie Jones
Charlie Knights
Beth Llewellyn
Sam Machell
Rupert Purnell
Alex Welfare
Ryan Surguy
2023 Venice Team Racing Team (Trofeo Marco Rizzotti) - Selected at the Spring Championships:
Laragh Epstein
Felix Garlick
Finn Ramus
Alex Saunders
