South American Championships Conclude
The 2012 International Optimist Dinghy Association [IODA] South American Championships wrapped up in San Isidro, Argentina this weekend.
Team Bermuda — Rory Caslin, Chase Cooper, Ceci Wollmann, Mikey Wollmann and Benn Smith joined the fleet of 160 sailors from 17 countries and were racing for seven days on the River Plate, just north of Buenos Aires.
The final day started bright with crisp air and a steady breeze of 18-20 knots for the two races scheduled. Coach Martin Jenkins pointed out how important it was to finish strongly and make each race important in its own right.
As expected Rory Caslin’s size was an advantage in the bigger breeze and he had his best two races of the regatta finishing with a 7th and 8th for an overall place of 45. The stronger wind set smaller Mikey Wollmann back slightly, finishing 29th in both races, he finished 54th overall and had a great regatta overall.
Ceci Wolman rounded the top mark of both races in a top position but couldn’t hold it through the finish. She had a 21st and a 13th for the day and  finished the event in 73rd.  Chase Cooper injured his neck and sat out the last 4 races dropping to 112th for the regatta.
Benn Smith finished with a 38th and a 32nd on the final day for an very respectable 122nd for his first IODA event. Â Team Bermuda also placed 4th as a group in the Nations Cup team racing event.
USA dominated the leader board. Their team captured the overall winner, 2nd, 3rd (2011 Bermuda Open winner Will Logue), 5th, 10th and 11th as well as 1,2, 3 in the Nations Cup. Peruvian Renzo Sanguineti was the South American Champion finishing in 6th overall. Â Bermuda Jr. Gold Cup sailor Odile Van Aanholt was top girl and 4th overall.
Coach Jenkins felt the Bermuda team did well but definitely missed out on a number of chances to advance themselves.
He does however see a great deal of potential in this group and is keen to see the sailors minimize the small mistakes so that the results will improve.
The next IODA event they will be focusing on is the World Championships in July which will be held in the Dominican Republic.
For full results, go here.
