Sailing: Stan & Smith Win BODA Spring Series
Youth sailors Sam Stan and Benn Smith are the Gold and Silver Fleet Champions of the 2011 Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) Spring Series which was completed yesterday [June 19].
Prizes were presented on Sunday evening at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club by BODA President Anthony Bailey, RHADC Vice Commodore Alan Williams and BODA Sailor Development officer Ben Nicholls.
Stan was the consistent leader in the Gold Fleet throughout the 29 race series and won by a comfortable 17 point margin. Antonio Bailey was 2nd in the series followed by Makai Joell in 3rd.
Stan also picked up BODA’s Spring Series Sportsmanship award for an unselfish manoeuvre in a North American Champs team qualifier race in April, when he allowed a competitor to take back his leading position after that sailor had realized that he had sailed past a turning mark after the course had been modified by new race instructions.
Benn Smith won the Spring Silver Fleet Series with a total of 34 points in the 25 race series. In 2nd place was Campbell Patton with 47 points and in 3rd place was Kieran Swan with 52 points. Smith also picked up the Spring Series Most Improved Award and will graduate to the BODA Gold Fleet this Fall.
BODA president Anthony Bailey congratulated all the sailors who participated in the Spring Series and wished everyone well with their various summer sailing endeavours which includes competition in Bermuda, North America and Europe.
He recognized the team of Sam Stan, Rory Caslin, Chase Cooper and Michael Barit who will be representing Bermuda at the IODA North American Championships in Long Beach California at the end of the month.
