Gill UK Optimist Spring Championships 2025 at Royal Torbay Yacht Club

Gill Optimist Spring Championships at Royal Torbay © Aren Roache / Gill Marine

The Gill UK Optimist Class Spring Championships, organised by the International Optimist Class Association (IOCA) UK, took place on March 15-16 at the prestigious Royal Torbay Yacht Club in Torquay, Devon. This event marked a vibrant start to the competitive sailing season, drawing over 150 young sailors from across the UK to the scenic waters of Torbay.

The Optimist dinghy, a single-handed boat for sailors up to age 15, is renowned for nurturing future sailing stars, and this weekend showcased the next generation's talent. Racing took place across three fleets: the Main Fleet for experienced competitors, the Racing Regatta Fleet for intermediates, and the Coached Regatta Fleet for beginners, ensuring every sailor had a chance to shine. Torbay provided a stunning backdrop for the action with sunshine, waves that rose above the sailors and strong but variable wind that made a great racing challenge.

The race committee squeezed in three races on each day for main fleet. In tight racing on Saturday, Sean Di Salle led overnight ahead of brother Patrick Di Salle and Charlie Holland who all mastered the variable winds across the course. Finn Ramus and Bear Baker also took wins. Ashore, the fleet attended a coach debrief en mass and many also watched the finale of the Six Nations rugby!

On Sunday, wind conditions began much stronger than Saturday and also became more variable. Jonny Rogers delivered three race wins which, with his two second places from Saturday, comfortably took the overall championship, with Bear Baker in second and Charlie Holland who held third place and was first Junior.

Jonny thanked the race committee, the organisers, volunteers, parents and competitors for the great racing.

The event was also an important milestone for the younger, aspiring sailors within the fleet, as the results will also be used to select the GB Junior Team for 2025 who will travel to the Irish Nationals this summer. The Irish fleet themselves were very well represented with 18 sailors joining and taking advantage of St Patrick's Day to travel home!

Emily Donagh of Ireland's Royal St George YC was first girl with Gracie Alsopp first GB girl.

In Regatta fleet 36 sailors from 9-12 years old jockeyed for the lead under the watchful eye of PRO Frankie Upton. The sailors displayed skills exceeding their years and all should be congratulated. The top slots were filled by Hettie Hutchinson, Robbie Judson and Evie Rogerson.

In Coached Regatta fleet, the 13 strong fleet of 7 years age upwards sailed just outside the harbour. Harriett Fletcher was top sailor and her family commented that "Harriett had an amazing time for her first big meet"!

Huge thanks to host Royal Torbay Yacht Club whose members volunteered in large numbers to support this event.

Full results:
Main fleet
Regatta fleet
Coached fleet