Optimist Open Meeting at Bowmoor Sailing Club Overall
by Carla Stanley 24 Apr 2001 16:22 BST
Saturday 21st April 2001
With the top 80 Optimist Sailors away at the Selections and Foot and Mouth closing several venues this was the first chance for many up and coming Optimist Sailors to try out their new skills after winter training and RYA Zone Talent Squads.
The race officer, Ian Makepeace, gave a thorough briefing to the fleet of 64 sailors and waited for the wind to steady to a Force One before starting them off in two fleets. Andrew Hibberd followed by Jamie Dick led the fleet to the first mark after tacking to get to the wind and getting well ahead. Half way down the next leg the wind died and the boys started to go round in circles and when the wind filled in from behind the lightweights started to come through. Imogen Stanley came out in front and took the lead. Jonathan Kempe from Bermuda overtook her on the beat along with Henry Maxfield and George Minors before she got back through them. In a nail biting finish Imogen managed to hold her lead against Henry and won by half a boat length, with George Minors close behind.
At the start of race two there was still little wind and again the lightweights were out in front. Imogen Stanley and Hannah Diamond led the race first and second at the first mark. Imogen pulled away and held her lead. Jonathan Kempe chased Hannah right up until the last few yards when Hannah just managed to pull out in front and beat him by less than a metre. The wind started to fill in as the last race was being started but within twenty minutes it had died completely and the Race Officer decided much to everyone’s relief to abandon the race.
The Regatta fleet of 14 boats although starting behind the Main fleet soon got muddled up with the main fleet. In the first race Sophie McKeeman had a good lead before she got caught in the raft of Main fleet boats at the leeward mark and slipped back to sixth place. Hermione Stanley chased by Charlotte Coles and Daniel Brown finished first. In the second race the regatta fleet again caught the main fleet with Daniel Brown in first, Guy Stephens second and Hermione, third. With equal points the last race would have been a decider before it was abandoned leaving Daniel Brown the winner.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Club | Pts |
|---|
| Main Fleet |
|---|
| 1st | Imogen Stanley | Bowmoor SC | 2 |
| 2nd | Hannah Diamond | Warsash SC | 8 |
| 3rd | George Minors | Royal Lymington | 8 |
| Girls Prize | Sophia Parkinson | Royal Guernsey YC | |
| Under 10 Boy | Charlie Makepeace | Bowmoor SC | |
| Under 10 Girl | Sophie Bowker | Papercourt SC | |
| Bowmoor Prize | Andrew Hibberd | | |
| Regatta Fleet |
|---|
| 1st | Daniel Brown | Bowmoor SC | 4 |
| 2nd | Hermione Stanley | Bowmoor SC | 4 |
| 3rd | Charlotte Coles | Royal Lymington | 8 |
| Girls Prize | Sophie McKeeman | Bowmoor SC | 10 |
More Information: