Bermuda Optimist Sailors Compete in Switzerland
An hour south of the capital of Switzerland Zurich in the heart of Europe is the “Sihlsee”. It was here on 8th August that Thomas and Adriana Penruddocke checked in to represent Bermuda in the Swiss Optimist National Championships. For Thomas [14] it the second time and Adriana [12], her first.
Just under 200 Optimist sailors converged on the Sihlsee Sailing Club, from 11 European countries including one entrant from Greece. Some camped by the man-made lake in the typically beautiful Swiss landscape, others stayed in local homes and hotels.
In Europe the Regatta check-in is rigorous; each sail, each spar, each dagger board and rudder, must conform to correct specifications, quite unlike Bermuda where no measuring occurs at all. Thomas and Adriana were ready to practise on the lake having teamed up with Club Thunersee to get some local knowledge; but there was only 2 – 4 knots wind, which was was to be the theme for the next three days.
Day one saw four races with the last barely finishing before the wind disappeared. Lake sailing is different and there is no margin for error; each day almost on the dot of 10am, with Swiss punctuality, the breeze of between two and seven knots would arrive after a little spinning of the wind indicators as the thermals got going.
Day one was tough for the two Optimists and they were at the back of the fleet with the Swiss, Germans, Italians and Spanish leading the charge. But on day two, places of 16 for Adriana and 26 for Thomas saw a great improvement. On day three there were only two races due lack of wind with shifts occurring frequently but on day four only one took place making a total of ten races each lasting approximately 55 minutes over four days.
Final result for Thomas was 133rd and Adriana 129th. This was a great experience for these two RBYC Sailing Academy sailors in very difficult conditions and so different from windy Bermuda. Hopefully the Swiss Champion will again come to the Bermuda Junior Gold Cup in October, though hopefully he will leave behind his foot high cowbell trophy for winning the Swiss Championship.
Certainly more Swiss Optimists now recognize the Bermuda flag and the Bermuda Optimist sailors continue to spread the word that something very special is once again developing in the Bermuda Optimist fleet.
RBYC Sailing Academy Coach Tom Herbert-Evans said “What a great experience for Thomas and Adriana, they are both two of the hardest working sailors in the Bermuda Fleet, always practising and always there to help others. Their practise was certainly put to good use in the challenging and very different lake conditions in Switzerland. The Bermuda Optimist sailors are travelling far and wide, which is great exposure for the kids, but equally great exposure for Bermuda Optimist sailing.”
Glad they had fun. The capital of Switzerland isn’t Zurich, though. It’s Bern.
Well done Thomas and Adriana Penruddocke, always great to see our young talent flying our flag overseas.
How comes Wayne’s World Flip Flop Furbert didnt tag along in Club World with these youngsters to sing “Bermuda is Another World” or sponsor them as this would have been expensive, come to think of it why doesnt Sailing get as much support as Football and Cricket…….ooops I’ve said too much, sorry for talking down Bermuda during this time of censorship.
I agree !!!!!!
They consider sailing as a “white sport” It’s an effin watersport !!!!!!