Logue Wins 2011 Bermuda Optimist Open
[Updated] Will Logue from Riverside Yacht Club in Connecticut, USA clinched the 2011 Bermuda Open Championship by a narrow 3 point margin yesterday [Nov.13]. Logue was in a heated battle for the top spot all weekend with top female sailor, Justina Pacheco, sailing in the 54 boat Championship Fleet.
All the glory came down to the eleventh and final race where Logue had to finish in front of the Dominican National Champion to claim the title. He did just that, securing a third ahead of her fourth place result.
Logue who sails with Team LISOT in the U.S. adds the Bermuda Open title to his resume just weeks after winning the USODA Southeast Championship in Naples Florida.
Jack Parkin, also from the Riverside Yacht Club, placed third in the 11 race regatta organized by the Sandy’s Boat Club in conjunction with the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association.
After losing Friday due to a brush with Tropical Storm Sean, sailors enjoyed steady 10 – 16 knot winds throughout the rest of the weekend in the Great Sound.
Top Bermuda Sailor Rory Caslin had a similar close battle with Chase Cooper and had to win the final race to secure the title of Bermuda National Champion which he did, finally placing eighth overall to Cooper’s ninth in the Open series.
Other major prize winners included Lucy Wilmot from the San Francisco Yacht Club who was awarded the Peter Mitchell Sportsmanship award and Top Junior (11 and under) was Ronja Gronblom of Finland. Top Bermuda Junior was Mikey Wollmann.
On the Green Fleet (Novice) course, Bermudian Sean Tucker was the top sailor followed by American Riley Kloc of Barrington, Rhode Island. Bermudian Jordan Etimadi was third. 30 sailors between the age of 5 and 13 took part in the ten race Green Fleet Regatta and Clinic in Hamilton Harbour.
Government Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation Glenn Blakeney was on hand at the Sandys Boat Club on Sunday evening to present the prizes to the deserving winners alongside Regatta Chairman Martin Siese.
L-R: Skip Lewis [Sponsor, Bda Container Line], Martin Siese, Will Logue, Minister Blakeney:
The clinic was run by “Green Fleet Guru” Tom Coleman and was sponsored by Riihiluoma’s Flying Colours. All Green Fleeters were presented with medals of participation.
Siese congratulated the young sailors for a successful weekend of racing and thanked the volunteers and sponsors, Bermuda Container Line, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Bermuda Dept of Tourism, Salt Rock Grill, McLaughlin Boat Works, Barritt’s and JSails.
Bermuda Natl Champ Rory Caslin is pictured below receiving his award:
