Jr Sailors Competing In Amlin Optimist Series
The popular Amlin Optimist Series continued on Sunday [Nov 4] with racing run by the host Club RBYC in Granaway Deep. PRO Charles Penruddocke was faced with blustery conditions thant were on the verge of a cancel decison for the Silver Fleet, however by heading to more sheltered waters, and 23 Gold and Silver FLeet sailors enjoyed 4 great races.
Chase Cooper, fresh from his success in Mexico re-joined his fellow Bermuda Optimist sailors and a competitive day was had by all, some of the Squad sailors were coached on Sunday by the BODA High Performance Coach Martin Jenkins. The Gold Fleet was eager to start in the 20kt breeze and after 2 general recalls they got started after PRO Penruddocke adopted the Black Flag start procedure.
It was again some of the the younger sailors who took to the front of the fleet in the first race of the day, Benn Smith (13) took an early lead followed by Matilda Nicholls (11) and Campell Patton (11). It was great to see Adriana Penruddocke (12) and Joe Arrowsmith (11) come in ahead of some of the more experienced sailors. In the SIlver Fleet Adam Larson(11) led race 1, he held off a strong challenge from Felix Cutler (10) and Jah Hall (10). These sailors realy did well in the strongest winds of the afternoon.
Race 2 saw some very close tactical racing, with Yannick Hillier (11) winning his first Gold Fleet Race, just pipping Cooper and Nicholls on the finish line, with Smith and Patton finishing just ahead of George Buckley(11) in 6th place. In the Silver FLeet Luke Madeiros (11) and Cutler led a fantasticly close race between the front 4 sailors, they narrowly edged ahead of Micah Thomas-Raynor (11) and Christopher Adderley (8).
Matilda Nicholls returned to the front of the Gold Fleet for Race 3 again after some very close tactical racing, she managed to hold off a challenge from Smith, Patton and Buckley to the finish, James Amaral (15) came in 5th closely followed by Tayte Stefaniuk (11). Of particualr note in this race was Grace Reeves (10) who finished in the top 10, in these challenging conditionsthis was a great example of how these sailors are improving so quickly. The Silver FLeet saw the turn of Jay Hall (11) to hit the front, he was followed by Cutler again in 2nd and Thomas -Raynor in 3rd.
The PRO combined the Gold and Silver Fleets for the 4th race of the day, again it was Matilda Nicholls out front, this time with a big lead. Smith, Hillier and Patton filled the next finishing places followed by Amaral, Arrowsmith and Adriana Penruddocke. First Silver Fleet sailor to cross the finish line was Luke Madeiros.
So after day 1 of Series 2 of the Amlin Optimist Racing the leaders are:-
Gold Fleet
- 1st Matilda Nicholls BER1111
- 2nd Benn Smith BER1324
- 3rd Campell Patton BER1008
- 4th Adriana Penruddocke BER1088
- 5th Yannick Hillier BER1017
- 6th James Amaral BER1600
- 7th Chase Cooper BER1037
- 8th Tayte Stefaniuck BER1121
- 9th Joe Arrowsmith BER 1084
- 10th George Buckley BER1009
Silver Fleet
- 1st Felix Cutler BER1406
- 2nd Luke Madeiros BER 103
- 3rd Adam Larson BER 1013
- 4th Jay Hall BER 2
- 5th Christopher Adderley BER 428
In the Combined Start Series running the length of the Amlin Autumn Series:-
- 1st Matilda Nicholls
- 2nd Benn Smith
- 3rd Campbell Patton
- 4th Joe Arrowsmith
- 5th Yannick Hillier
Coach Tom Herbert-Evans form the RBYC Sailing Academy was thrilled to see his sailors continuing to do so well. “This Amlin Series has been a great Development Series, these sailors are now beginning to master the heavier wind conditions, the work all the Coaches have been doing with the sailors combined with the sailor’s desire to improve is making a big difference. With the Bermuda Optimist National Championships next week there may be a few visiting sailors surprised at seeing just how good these young sailors are becomming at so young an age”.
Congratulations little ones!