Northern Optimist Late Summer Championship at Derwent Reservoir

Northern Optimist Late Summer Championship at Derwent Reservoir © Howard Versey & Lindsay Welfare

It was great to welcome 16 Optimist sailors from across the north of England and Scotland to Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club on 31 August and 1 September.

We were greeted by sunshine and a decent breeze on Saturday morning as the sailors congregated at (and sometimes on) the bouncy castle for the event briefing from PRO Imogen Gibb and Lead Coach David Shilling. This was also an opportunity for the sailors to meet the race management and coach team comprising of recent ex-oppy sailors keen to see the ongoing development of the class in the region.

Northern Optimist Late Summer Championship at Derwent Reservoir - photo © Howard Versey & Lindsay Welfare

Championship fleet launched first for some training on the water focusing on race preparation and strategy followed by racing with each sailor given feedback. Coached fleet sailed a figure of eight course, mixed with a game of giant Connect 4.

Northern Optimist Late Summer Championship at Derwent Reservoir - photo © Howard Versey & Lindsay Welfare

After lunch, Coached fleet relaunched and quickly became experts at getting out of irons, and replacing caps on heads. They also managed to complete some short reaching races. Championship fleet went out again for 2 more races. The first day leader was local sailor Seb Vials with a 1, 1, 2 showing importance of clear air over tactical positioning on the start line in light winds.

After sailing, entertainment was provided in the form of match racing between current and ex-oppy sailors of a range of ages and generations, including a previous national champion. Some races were close, intense and very heated (particularly certain intra-familial matches), whilst others were less so, with larger sailors re-discovering an oppy's remarkable ability to become a swimming pool and realising that they may have grown since their last optimist sail. Oppy Sailors on the pontoon provided racemanagement and vocal coaching. Afterwards, a large delivery of local pizza refueled everyone ready for the bouncy castle and lots of running around.

Northern Optimist Late Summer Championship at Derwent Reservoir - photo © Howard Versey & Lindsay Welfare

Sunday dawned with slightly more wind but unfortunately less blue sky. The now experienced race team delivered their briefing and the championship fleet launched and sailed 3 races with Ed Coady providing on-the-water coaching. Clarissa Jackson stormed past the fleet reading the course and spotting the pressure, with two firsts. Having practiced zigging and zagging on shore, the coached fleet went out to have a go at sailing upwind, which all the sailors managed very successfully despite the windier conditions.

Northern Optimist Late Summer Championship at Derwent Reservoir - photo © Howard Versey & Lindsay Welfare

Overall nobody was able to catch the early lead of Sebastian Vials who also took home the North East plate. All were winners with the rarity of a race event where all gained individualised coaching during and between racing - an experiment we will repeat.

Thank you to DRSC for their support and for hosting and the galley for some excellent food. Thanks also to Imogen for her support to the sailors and her young race team who gained much, to Calum and Rory for their expert mark laying, and to David and Ed for coaching main fleet. Also thanks to our inspiring ex-optimist sailors Alanna, Olivia, Lizzie, Ada, Ben and Lola for their coaching and race management throughout the weekend and all the Scottish sailors for making the journey down.

Overall Results: