Sailing Championship Underway In Chile
The International Optimist Dinghy Association’s (IODA) South American Championship got underway on Sunday in Algarrobo, Chile with 3 races of the 12 race regatta successfully completed.
The 162 competitors are divided into six groups, each group rotating after each race. Race day 1 was sunny with temperatures in the low 60′s and the sailors saw winds out of the SSW up to 20 knots. Team Bermuda consisting of Antonio Bailey, Rory Caslin, Makai Joell and Chase Cooper spent the last week on site training on the Pacific waters off of the Club de Yates Algarrobo with high performance coach Zizi Stanuil.
Sunday saw one of the windiest days since their arrival a week ago with strong winds and strong currents testing the Bermuda team. Team Leader Lesley Caslin reported that he team struggled to get good starts in the 1st race but starts improved in the 2nd and 3rd races.
The conditions were tough for the lighter members of the team. Results after 3 races have Makai Joell 53rd, (15,34,10); Antonio Bailey 80th (28,22,28); Rory Caslin 106th, (33,30,38); Chase Cooper 115th, (31,45,38) in the 162 boat fleet. “All of the boys tried really hard in the conditions and they are looking forward to calmer seas with expected winds of 7 to 9 knots forecast for Monday,” said Mrs. Caslin.
[Rhoto by Matias Capizzano]
