14-Year-Old Chase Cooper Wins In Argentina
180 young sailors from eight countries recently competed in Argentina, with Bermuda’s own Chase Cooper claiming the top spot.
The 14-year-old wasn’t the only Bermuda sailor to do well; as the entire Bermuda team finished in the top 30%, with Ceci Wollmann finishing in 10th place overall and the 3rd female in the fleet.
Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association [BODA] sailors Peter Dill, Chase Cooper, Ceci Wollmann, Mikey Wollmann and Benn Smith travelled to Mar del Plata, Argentina to sail in the 48th annual Semana Internacional del Yachting during their school half-term break.
L-R: Peter Dill, Chase Cooper, Ceci Wollmann, Mikey Wollmann and Benn Smith:
Known for its blustery conditions, huge rolling waves and high level of competition, Mar del Plata was targeted as a good warm-up regatta for the IODA South American Championships which will be held in Brazil next month.
The group of five qualified to represent Bermuda and attend the SA Championships following the Bermuda selection trials last fall. Accompanied by BODA High Performance Coach, Martin Jenkins, the team’s mission was to learn more about their SA competition and take advantage of the large fleet experience prior to next month’s continental championship in Brazil. Jenkins, a native of Mar del Plata is also a former champion of the Semana Internacional del Yachting, winning the top spot in 1994.
The 180 Optimist sailors from eight countries enjoyed twelve races over five days with the fleet experiencing a multitude of conditions. This included classic moderate strength north-easterlies, breezy southerlies and gusty westerlies which along with strong currents, which made for challenging sailing. The regatta, which has a component of 7 adult fleets in addition to a beginner and advanced Optimist fleet, was co-organized by the Club Nautico Mar del Plata and the Yacht Club Argentino.
Chase Cooper leads the fleet:
14 year old RBYC and Sandys Boat Club sailor Chase Cooper came out firing on all cylinders from the first day and led the regatta the whole week in a manner described by the local Argentine press as a “devastating walk,” over the fleet, clinching the championship prior to the last race with scores of 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2 after discarding his two worst races. The RHADC’s Ceci Wollmann had trouble in two races but overall also sailed very well, finishing in 10th place overall and making the podium as the 3rd female in the fleet.
Brother Mikey Wollmann finished strong with a 6th in the final race, leaving him in 38th overall due to the burden of maximum points taken due to being over the starting line early on 3 occasions. Benn Smith (RBYC) and Peter Dill (RHADC) finished 56th and 59th respectively. Both had a number of top 10 finishes but unfortunately lacked consistency in the ever changing conditions.
Coach Jenkins was not only happy to have the Champion in his stable but was very pleased that the team sailed well enough to have all five of them place in the top third of the highly competitive fleet. He felt that all the sailors learned a great deal and understand their individual next steps required to prepare themselves for the SA Championships.
The full results are below [PDF here]:
Good job to our young people. You should be proud of yourselves. Your hardwork has paid off.
What a dominant performance by Young Cooper!
Congrats to Mr. Chase Cooper! You are an amazing young person and this win is a testament to your dedication and hard work! Congrats again, as well to the whole team!
Well done young’uns . Which reminds me … Will Pasta Bean still control Whites Island ?
Congrats to Mr. Cooper and the entire Bermudian team!
Awesome News! Congratulations Chase, and Team Bermuda…with the development of sailing, and the potential for Bermuda to do very well in it, why isn’t is a national sport?
Congradulations to all of you.
Congratulations to Mr. Cooper and ALL of the participants who represented Bermuda! Happy to see a Bermudian won, and to all the others who weren’t as fortunate but I’m sure worked just as hard, we as a country are very proud of you all!
Congratulations to Chase….
What a star
And the Bermuda team too, well done
Well done Chase. You represented our country very well. Keep up the hard work. You make us all very proud.
Congrats Chase!!!! Congrats to the BDA team!!! Congrats Coach!!!
Every single one of you have made us here back home extremely proud!!!!
“A devastating walk all over the regatta!!!!”
Congratulations to Chase Cooper and the rest of the Bermuda Team! Wishing all of you much continued success!
Congrats to master Cooper.
Perhaps a future Olympic medal winner.Keep persevering in your endeavors and you will succeed.Good luck!
Congratulations to these hard working dedicated young Bermudian athletes. You should all be very proud of your accomplishments. Keep up the great work as you are the kind of role models Bermuda needs!