Amlin Autumn Optimist Series Report
“What a perfect day!” was the comment from a mother watching racing of her 10 year old son for the first time in the silver fleet under the bright blue sky above the unusually calm Great Sound.
26 Optimist sailors from RBYC and RHADC sailed out to the north of Hawkins Island at 11.0am on Sunday last to take part in the Autumn Series of the BODA sanctioned event hosted by Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Amlin, the Bermuda Reinsurer, has kindly sponsored the 2012 Autumn Series which is divided into two series, each with five race days, so that there is racing most Sundays up to the beginning of December.
The Gold fleet of 15 top Bermuda sailors up to the age of 15 started first, with the wind blowing a variable 11 to 12 knots directly from the North over the Cement silos in Dockyard down to Hawkins Island. So anxious to sail well in the first race, the sailors had to be called back as many were over the start line.
The new start was more successful and soon Ceci Wollman was out in front followed by Chase Cooper and Mikey Wollman and Ben Smith which was the the order at the finish. In the following two races of the Gold fleet similar close racing occurred with Campbell Patton making good running into 3rd place, tenacious Ben Smith in 2nd and Mikey Wollman 1st.
The Silver Fleet ( 11) started their races 5 minutes after the Gold on a shorted course and the competition was fierce and close with finishes for many sailors a few inches apart taxing veteran RO, Jay Coopers ability to call out the sail numbers quickly enough. Rian Geraghty‐Mc‐Donnell took 1st, his best of the day, with Nasojay Hall 2nd and Chris Adderley 3rd.
Chris went on to have a great afternoon with results of 2, 1,2, 3 in the following races. Micah Thomas Raynor also had tremendous time from the third race onwards with places of 2,1,1. Another up and coming racer Luke Madeiros managed a 1st and a 2nd place during the afternoon with Leyli Walker not far behind.
By the fourth race the wind had picked up and veered North East requiring adjustment to the course and a change to a longer triangular course. This did not phase the top sailors and Chase Cooper sailed well to take 1st with 10 year old Matilda Nichols in second place and Mikey on this occasion making do with 3rd.
In the last race ( back to Windward leeward) once again Ceci Wollman romped home , extending her lead to several boat lengths downwind, to take first and Campbell Patton 2nd and Matilda Nichols 3rd. Although final honours in the combined start 5th race, just before the 4pm deadline, for Silver fleet went to Micah Raynor Thomas 1st and , Luke Madeiros 2nd with ever steady Christopher Adderley 3rd, the consensus everywhere was indeed a “perfect day”.
