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Sea Sure 2025

IOCA Gill Early Summer Optimist Championships at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club

by Stephen Wright 26 May 2023 11:01 BST 13-14 May 2023
IOCA Gill Early Summer Optimist Championships at Derwent Reservoir © Stephen Wright

After a six-year absence it was excellent to see the Optimist fleet back at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club (DRSC) for the 2023 IOCA Gill Early Summer Championships on 13-14 May 2023.

Seventy-four sailors arrived from around the UK, with some travelling from as far north as Aberdeen and as far south as Dorset. For those who arrived late and spent a night under canvas at the club, the bright sunshine and fine scenery on Saturday morning was a rewarding sight. An hour's postponement while the wind filled in gave everyone time to rig, catch up with friends and grab a bacon sandwich from the galley.

With a light south easterly breeze, PRO Imogen Gibb led her race team towards the dam and set a course with an outer loop for Main Fleet and a shorter inner loop for the Intermediate Fleet. Racing got under way around noon, with both fleets completing two races before the wind dropped off altogether. In the first race, left seemed to pay with DRSC club member, Olivia Coady, heading out to the port lay line and reaping the rewards with a 2nd place to Will Moss, of Barnt Green SC.

In Intermediate Fleet, Charlie Holland, of Hayling Island SC, got off to a fabulous start, winning both races on Saturday and setting up a lead that would be impossible to catch. Charlie had come third place in the Regatta Fleet at the IOCA Spring Championships and made the step up to Intermediate Fleet with ease. Similarly, Roisin Epstein from Cardiff Bay SC, who had come fifth in Regatta Fleet at the Springs, came second in Intermediate fleet this weekend. Well done to them both for moving up to this new fleet for the Class and for sailing so well.

Meanwhile, Regatta Fleet Race Officer Calum Polwart led his fleet through six short races, with Finnian Keegan winning five of them and going on to win comfortably overall on the Sunday. Well done to all the regatta fleet sailors in particular those for whom it was their first regatta - local sailor Johnnie Tellez received an endeavour prize for really enjoying the racing and giving it his all.

On Sunday the wind had moved to West and built a little. Main and Intermediate Fleet headed down to the dam and found a nice breeze, which rewarded those who could read the shifts and make good decisions. Will Moss had a great weekend, went on to win two more races on the Sunday and the regatta overall. Freya Hutchinson sailed consistently all weekend, finishing first girl and 6th overall.

Intermediate Fleet came in after three good races and Main Fleet stayed out longer for a fourth, completing a six-race series. Calum again set the Regatta Fleet race course on the water in front of the club giving parents a great view of the racing from the balcony - another six races completing a 12-race series. Full results are available via links on the Class racing calendar: www.optimist.org.uk/racing/events-calendar

Many thanks of course to all our Race Officials, including Nick Rusbridge, National Judge, for overseeing fair racing. Three club members put many hours of planning into making the event a success - Deborah Waggett, alongside her role as Training Officer for the Class, Carol Ellen Starkie and David Shilling - and deserve a special thank you.

The Club were very generous hosts, with a galley serving breakfast rolls and lunches, plenty of hard standing for campervans and a huge field for camping making life very easy for those who chose to stay on site. Many people commented how nice it was for the Class to hold a summer event where families were able to camp at the club and the relaxed feel that gave to the weekend. The fine, early summer weather certainly helped, and families were able to barbecue food, have a drink in the bar while the children hung out or played together in the grounds of the club.

We are looking forward to the IOCA Late Summer Championships at Pwllheli, on 9-10 September 2023, which with sea sailing off the beach and plenty of space to camp on site we expect will be another excellent event.

Main Fleet Results:

PosSail NoNameR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st6618William Moss12112‑47
2nd6611Jonny Rogers3‑10229218
3rd6624Andrew Perratt76653‑1527
4th6517Thomas Saunders6‑191277335
5th6628Harry Draper417‑2534836
6th6635Freya Hutchinson944(UFD)13636
7th5080Olivia Coady2137‑27121145
8th6242Jacob Jull814‑271311147
9th6636Isla Hutchinson‑281151681050
10th6612Dirk Rogers17113‑19141257
11th6495Leo Gosling(DSQ)7315171759
12th6410Amelia Kent5281991‑3462
13th6622Laszlo Drummond‑251284221864
14th6572Toby Waggett1532418‑27565
15th6430Isla Hill11526626‑3074
16th6450Rory Armstrong1015102019‑2874
17th6516Callum Marshall169(UFD)21161476
18th6400Tom Keegan13(UFD)2214201382
19th6606Noah Mathers183918(UFD)6990
20th6313Alanna Starkie‑42271126151695
21st6586Sebastian Bailey(RET)89RET21797
22nd6529Henry Cruse1422(UFD)82435103
23rd6163Stella Davey19‑2415242323104
24th6360Emily Leary12‑413130536114
25th6558Niamh Epstein22‑3614361825115
26th6490Pippa Knights21312022‑3721115
27th6522Ruby Coster32262317‑3322120
28th6500Henry Blades‑382117283520121
29th5844Elizabeth Hudson27332910‑3624123
30th4940Rachel Elms‑393833251019125
31st6355Robin Wright342016(UFD)3226128
32nd6591Dougal Jackson2023323125‑33131
33rd6449Harry Whelan‑401634292932140
34th5243Alex Welfare30183035‑4140153
35th6282Finlay Ritchie3744361231‑49160
36th6013Lochlyn Grant31352138‑3937162
37th6368Merryn Wealthy3525(UFD)343039163
38th6464Ryan Surguy3329352344‑48164
39th6527Logan Brown‑473737373429174
40th6343Molly Martin293439‑464627175
41st6395Meg Thomas2446284538‑47181
42nd5527Kate Charlesworth2332‑4740SCP45184
43rd5464Hector Jackson4547431142‑50188
44th6569Charlie Knights26‑4545324342188
45th6230Finley Browne‑483041434731192
46th6424Beth Llewellyn46404033‑4843202
47th6523William Fuller4142‑46394538205
48th6397Darcy Odonnell43‑4938444041206
49th6503Angus Millar36484241‑5044211
50th6570Charlotte Self44434442‑4946219
51st4844Leo Ayna(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC260

Intermediate Fleet Results:

PosSail NoNameR1R2R3R4R5Pts
1st6451Charlie Holland111‑214
2nd6277Roisin Epstein2‑43128
3rd6206Rose Versey‑3323311
4th6105Sam Wealthy4245‑615
5th5370Oscar Manning6‑764420
6th5519Blythe Brown55‑76521
7th6571Fraser Smith‑8857727
8th6344Finlay White76‑88829

Regatta Fleet Results:

PosSail NoNameR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12Pts
1st6302Finnian Keegan2111112‑3111‑412
2nd6354Hugo Thomas1‑6344‑511232122
3rd5961Zoe Green‑9745243‑9323235
4th6420Isla Macleod436‑73‑754444340
5th5916Clarissa Jackson545‑8‑9842557550
6th6552Amelia Browne3‑98352768‑118757
7th4630Jake White6229‑133‑13111096967
8th6543Sebastian Vials‑1059‑1110995675671
9th5955Annabelle Kent8‑11766687‑989873
10th11Henry Jones‑131010271111‑1276111085
11th6625Cameron Ritchie78‑121081068‑1110101188
12th5526Johnnie Tellez12‑13‑13121212121012121212118
13th5687Charlotte Mcgaughey111211‑1311‑13101313131313120

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