IOCA Optimist Winter Championships at Draycote Water Sailing Club

by Stephen Wright 1 Dec 2023 11:04 GMT 25-26 November 2023

After enjoying the warmest November on record north of the border, Scottish Optimist sailors arriving at Draycote Water Sailing Club for the IOCA Winter Championships were in for a shock. With low temperatures all weekend it certainly felt like winter but as Andrew Perratt from Helensburgh Sailing Club and overall winner of the event said, "It was freezing cold but despite the conditions we all had lots of fun and laughs."

It is eighteen months since the Optimist Class were last at Draycote and it was good to remember what a fine venue it is both on and off the water - plenty of space for trailers and campervans, slick launching of RIBs and a warm bar at the end of the day. The club accommodated over a hundred Optimists with ease and made everyone feel very welcome.

Saturday dawned icy cold but by registration time there was a gentle north westerly breeze and the low, winter sunshine added a little warmth. After a briefing by PRO Imogen Gibb, and some wise advice from Class Judge Sian Reynolds, delta flag was raised and the fleets launched.

Intermediate Fleet, heading downwind, race 1 - IOCA Optimist Winter Championships at Draycote - photo © Stephen Wright

The first Main Fleet race got under way cleanly. Jonny Rogers from Royal Lymington YC led round the windward mark and kept the lead until the finish. While in the Intermediate Fleet, Zoe Green from Netley SC, enjoyed some close racing and took the win in their first race. The race committee got the second races away quickly, with Andrew Perratt taking the win in Main Fleet and Zoe her second win of the day in Inters.

Towards the end of the second race the breeze dropped and veered north, making it a beat to the finish line for some. Imogen repositioned the committee boat, while the mark layers, glad of the chance to warm up, lifted all the marks and re-laid the course ready for the third race of the day.

Racing at close quarters - IOCA Optimist Winter Championships at Draycote - photo © Stephen Wright

In such a competitive class as the Optimist it must be pretty special to win a Main Fleet race at a national event, to win one as a ten year old even more so. Congratulations to Charlie Holland of Hayling Island SC who described his win in the third race, "I had a good start off the pin, tacked onto port, got lifted up into the mark and it all just clicked into place from there." He makes it sound so simple...

In the intermediate fleet, Felix Palmer-Ward of HISC/Emsworth SC, took the third race leaving him in second place, just two points behind Zoe with it all to play for on Sunday.

By now the sailors had been on the water for around four hours and Imogen made the sensible decision to bring them in. Almost all were satisfied; only the unlucky few with 101 points from a U-flag in their score were left wishing for another race!

Felix Palmer Ward leading race 3 intermediate fleet - IOCA Optimist Winter Championships at Draycote - photo © Stephen Wright

Hot chocolate and flapjacks with lots of golden syrup were just what the sailors needed and after changing, everyone gathered in the bar. By popular demand and with thanks to our sponsors Gill, our prize give-away, 'In It To Win It!' was back for the Winters, compered by Sarah Rennard.

After much excitement, it was time for medals, as we took a moment to recognise the commitment shown by the 29 Optimist sailors who had competed in all five IOCA Championship weekends and the Nationals in 2023. (The irony of receiving a sustainable, wooden medal for travelling the length and breadth of the country wasn't lost on the parents!)

Sunday morning felt colder again with a heavy frost and low cloud. Well done to the whole fleet for being rigged and ready on time, despite some sailors having to defrost their mainsheets in bailers of hot water and others having to chip ice out of their boats. After a race committee meeting, racing was postponed for one hour, waiting for wind.

While waiting, some sailors stayed in the club house and kept warm, others hung about in the boat park, lifting sheets of ice off the boat covers and shattering them harmlessly on the ground. Those of you who remember Jacob Jull's expert piano playing at Parkstone YC would have enjoyed it when Ewan Hamilton, who heads up the rock band Triangulation Station pulled out his guitar and, perched on the gunwale of his Optimist, played a quick rendition of 'Here Comes the Sun' to chase away the winter drizzle and fog. He must have had cold fingers but it worked!

Out on the water, Imogen and her committee boat crew had been waiting for over an hour, reminiscing/hallucinating about summer days on the water in shorts and a t-shirt. By midday they were satisfied that there was sufficient breeze across the race course and, after consulting with the Safety Officer, Sailing Officer and Child Welfare Officer, delta flag was displayed and the Main Fleet launched.

The south westerly breeze was a light but steady 4 knots and Main Fleet managed two fair races back-to-back, with the second and final race finishing at the windward mark of the outer loop, allowing a quicker sail home.

Kate Charlesworth leading a closely matched group in race 3 - IOCA Optimist Winter Championships at Draycote - photo © Stephen Wright

With impeccable timing the Intermediate Fleet arrived in the race area and were in sequence and racing with a minimum of hanging around. The fleet included some quite young sailors and it remained bitterly cold - one being caught on camera doing star jumps in her Oppie to keep warm! After one good race the Intermediate fleet also headed ashore, to a bowl of warm pasta, a change of clothes and prize-giving.

Andrew Perratt sailed very well on Sunday with two race wins, taking the lead back from Charlie Holland who finished a very credible second overall. Eliana Edwards sailed consistently well, finishing third overall and the first girl.

Intermediate fleet continued to provide close racing with five sailors having top three finishes in the weekend's races. In the end, Zoe Green, who was fifth in Inters at Parkstone, won the event and said, "It was one cold event with not much breeze on either day but very competitive in Intermediate Fleet, so it was a huge shock to go and win it. It was much closer than the results made it look."

Nia Byrne leading a group down to the gate in race 3 - IOCA Optimist Winter Championships at Draycote - photo © Stephen Wright

As ever, the young sailors were amazing and showed great spirit and resilience to sail and compete in such wintery conditions - every sailor sailed on both days. Here's to a warmer weekend at the Spring Championships and until then, I'll leave you with a Haiku, written by Nick O'Donnell, father of Darcy (GBR 6512)...

Volunteers we thank,
New parents join, values guide.
Sailing's life we teach

More photos available

IOCA Optimist Winter Championships at Draycote - photo © Steve Davis

Intermediate Fleet Results:

Pos	Sail No	Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	Pts
1	5961	Zoe Green	1	1	‑2	1	3
2	5813	Felix Palmer Ward	‑3	2	1	3	6
3	6350	Charlotte Davis	2	8	‑14	4	14
4	5556	Finn Neal	7	3	5	‑21	15
5	5908	BUDDY HUNT	10	‑13	3	5	18
6	6354	Hugo Thomas	5	6	‑12	8	19
7	6334	Cara Lynch	9	5	7	‑19	21
8	4508	JACOB RICHARDSON	11	7	‑15	6	24
9	5754	Phoebe Phillpot	‑12	9	8	7	24
10	6571	Fraser Smith	‑17	4	6	17	27
11	6393	Cameron Ritchie	4	10	‑22	13	27
12	6507	Sam Bourke	(NSC)	16	13	2	31
13	6552	Amelia Browne	8	14	9	‑18	31
14	6555	Eleanor Hughes	15	‑19	4	14	33
15	4273	Leon Grundy	6	‑20	18	9	33
16	6246	Oscar Stephens	‑18	12	11	15	38
17	4581	Robby Mayo	16	15	‑17	11	42
18	5881	Tamsin ROWNTREE	14	11	20	‑22	45
19	5916	Clarissa Jackson	‑24	18	19	10	47
20	5988	Camilla Garlick	20	‑22	10	20	50
21	6501	Ayla Griffiths	13	17	21	(DNC)	51
22	5708	Elsie Munro	21	21	‑23	16	58
23	6212	Maxim Lucas	22	23	16	(DNC)	61
24	6365	Martha Hughes	23	(DNC)	DNC	12	63
25	4630	Jake White	19	(DNC)	24	23	66
26	5687	Charlotte McGaughey	(NSC)	24	25	24	73
27	6196	Daisy Abney‑Hastings	25	(DNC)	26	25	76

IOCA Optimist Winter Championships at Draycote - photo © Steve Davis

Main Fleet Results:

Pos	Sail No	Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Pts
1st	6624	Andrew Perratt	5	1	‑11	1	1	8
2nd	6451	Charlie Holland	3	8	1	3	‑43	15
3rd	6632	Eliana Edwards	4	4	7	‑8	2	17
4th	6611	Jonny Rogers	1	9	‑18	10	8	28
5th	6316	Patrick Di Salle	13	3	4	13	‑19	33
6th	6606	Noah Mathers	7	12	3	‑28	11	33
7th	6531	Hugo Fletcher	2	2	15	18	‑30	37
8th	6444	Pippa Shepherd	22	10	5	‑39	6	43
9th	6298	Thomas Knight	20	7	25	2	‑59	54
10th	6628	Harry Draper	6	11	‑26	16	23	56
11th	6610	Nia Byrne	11	13	(UFD)	25	9	58
12th	6374	Freddie JONES	26	‑37	10	9	18	63
13th	6553	Finn Ramus	‑37	6	13	34	16	69
14th	6349	Felix Garlick	9	17	‑41	32	13	71
15th	6631	Alex Saunders	14	21	(UFD)	14	22	71
16th	6636	Isla Hutchinson	30	20	2	‑40	20	72
17th	6529	Henry Cruse	19	14	‑30	29	10	72
18th	6546	Wilbur Palmer Ward	8	24	17	‑30	25	74
19th	6311	Sean Di Salle	‑34	15	31	26	7	79
20th	6515	Rupert Garlick	35	28	16	‑55	3	82
21st	6163	Stella Davey	‑40	23	32	27	4	86
22nd	6595	Lizzie Hudson	‑46	26	12	33	15	86
23rd	6618	William Moss	25	27	33	5	‑35	90
24th	6621	Hector Davies	‑50	16	28	24	24	92
25th	6639	Rory Armstrong	10	‑40	40	35	14	99
26th	6242	Jacob Jull	12	25	34	‑66	29	100
27th	6593	Fraser Hakes	17	33	‑53	23	27	100
28th	6622	Laszlo Drummond	24	‑51	23	21	33	101
29th	6563	Rupert Purnell	18	42	‑44	6	36	102
30th	6352	Chloe Davis	43	43	6	11	‑52	103
31st	6270	Harry Ramshaw	28	19	37	20	‑42	104
32nd	6472	William Shaw	29	5	21	56	‑58	111
33rd	6644	Tom Keegan	68	31	8	7	‑94	114
34th	6355	Robin Wright	39	18	(UFD)	31	32	120
35th	6453	Alice Atkin	16	(SCP)	9	43	53	121
36th	6605	Gughi Ceccatelli	31	45	42	4	‑70	122
37th	6594	Finn Byrne	58	35	(UFD)	15	17	125
38th	6147	Gracie Allsopp	15	29	‑51	42	41	127
39th	6516	Callum Marshall	38	22	27	41	‑44	128
40th	255	Jai Mutreja	‑55	32	35	19	46	132
41st	6600	Niamh Epstein	32	49	24	‑71	31	136
42nd	6454	Freddie Pank	23	34	(UFD)	17	73	147
43rd	6572	Oscar Hoyle	21	41	29	59	‑77	150
44th	4940	Rachel Elms	33	61	47	‑64	12	153
45th	6449	Harry Whelan	36	‑54	39	36	49	160
46th	6231	Ewan Hamilton	48	47	‑59	46	28	169
47th	6523	William Fuller	44	‑77	19	60	48	171
48th	6640	Pippa Knights	‑69	44	61	63	5	173
49th	6500	Henry Blades	‑53	53	46	37	40	176
50th	6480	Natalie Ayling	52	‑74	57	52	21	182
51st	6190	Felix Gladman	49	‑89	20	48	66	183
52nd	6446	Sam Machell	‑73	69	14	69	34	186
53rd	6476	Joshua Ayling	54	59	22	54	‑68	189
54th	6430	Isla Hill	51	46	43	‑70	50	190
55th	6617	Finley Browne	27	67	‑79	44	54	192
56th	6576	Arthur Pattison	47	48	50	‑92	47	192
57th	6381	Carwyn Parry	‑67	63	38	57	38	196
58th	6512	Darcy O'Donnell	61	‑70	36	45	55	197
59th	6558	Roisin Epstein	‑81	52	75	38	37	202
60th	6505	Guy Kent	‑56	55	54	53	51	213
61st	6578	Ruby Coster	71	39	48	‑80	62	220
62nd	6313	Alanna Starkie	‑86	38	73	58	56	225
63rd	6368	Merryn Wealthy	66	36	49	‑76	76	227
64th	6484	Isabella Deas	41	62	63	62	‑83	228
65th	6317	amelie fairhead	42	72	55	‑81	60	229
66th	6039	Jacques Kent	64	79	‑89	67	26	236
67th	6342	Amelie Renard	80	82	‑91	12	63	237
68th	6434	Will Keys‑Batson	62	58	78	‑89	39	237
69th	6282	Finlay Ritchie	84	90	45	22	‑97	241
70th	5500	Alex Welfare	‑76	57	60	74	57	248
71st	6404	Edward Taylor	70	76	56	47	‑85	249
72nd	6514	Kate Charlesworth	‑83	60	58	72	61	251
73rd	6483	Edie Rogers	‑82	68	66	51	67	252
74th	6013	Lochlyn Grant	63	‑92	68	83	45	259
75th	6107	Rory Luddington	‑93	56	52	75	82	265
76th	6569	Charlie Knights	72	‑88	67	49	80	268
77th	6395	Meg Thomas	‑85	50	65	79	75	269
78th	6432	Oscar Coates	60	‑91	69	82	64	275
79th	6439	Jack Ward	65	75	‑80	73	65	278
80th	6360	Emily Leary	‑79	65	74	68	74	281
81st	6424	Beth Llewellyn	45	85	62	‑94	91	283
82nd	5370	Oscar Manning	‑91	64	64	78	78	284
83rd	6460	Monty Levell	75	81	71	65	‑84	292
84th	6570	Charlotte Self	‑89	71	72	77	72	292
85th	6418	Tristan Shaw	‑90	78	88	50	81	297
86th	5970	Tomos Martin	‑94	73	86	61	86	306
87th	6551	Elvi Coates	57	87	‑90	87	79	310
88th	6615	Meri Greenaway	78	84	‑85	85	71	318
89th	5997	Isaac Thomas	59	97	70	‑98	93	319
90th	6343	Molly Martin	74	83	77	86	‑99	320
91st	6591	Hector Jackson	87	66	81	‑90	88	322
92nd	6027	Hugh Walker	92	‑94	82	84	69	327
93rd	6464	Ryan Surguy	88	80	76	‑95	89	333
94th	6229	Kit Bentall	77	96	83	‑99	87	343
95th	6382	Jack Harding	‑96	86	87	88	95	356
96th	6344	Finlay White	‑95	93	84	93	90	360
97th	6643	Finnian Keegan	98	‑99	92	96	92	378
98th	6638	Lexa Taylor‑Green	97	‑98	94	91	98	380
99th	6306	George McCormick	‑99	95	93	97	96	381
100th	1665	Gemma Brady	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	404

IOCA Optimist Winter Championships at Draycote - photo © Steve Davis

Medal winners:

Amelia Browne
Andrew Perratt
Beth Llewellyn
Callum Marshall
Charlie Holland
Charlotte Self
Clarissa Jackson
Darcy O'Donnell
Emily Leary
Finlay White
Finley Browne
Finnian Keegan
Harry Draper
Harry Whelan
Hector Jackson
Hugo Thomas
Jonny Rogers
Lizzie Hudson
Meg Thomas
Molly Martin
Merryn Wealthy
Niamh Epstein
Robin Wright
Noah Mathers
Roisin Epstein
Ruby Coster
Stella Davey
William Fuller
Tom Keegan