Amlin Optimist Sailing Series Underway

Racing continued on Sunday [Dec 2] for RBYC’s Amlin Optimist Series, the sailing took place in the Great Sound in moderate easterly breezes. PRO Chris Brittain set excellent courses for the 28 sailors to enjoy a competitive afternoon of 5 races.

The Gold Fleet racing was won by RBYC’s 11 year old sailor Campbell Patton on 11 points with Ceci Wollmann one point behind and Matilda Nicholls 3rd on 14pts. Bermuda’s National Champion Benn Smith was 4th on 16pts with Chase Cooper rounding out the top 5 on 17pts.

The Silver Fleet winner of the day was RBYC’s Chris DeSilva on 9pts. Just 10 years old, Chris surprised the regulars on his first day of Sunday Racing this Autumn just edging Felix Cutler on 10pts, both sailors were ahead of 3rd placed Rian McDonnell, Adam Larson and Christopher Adderley.

RBYC’s Director of Sailing Tom Herbert-Evans said “I was thrilled to see Chris come out and surprise everyone today, he has been sailing hard in our regular training sessions and has now proved to us all just how talented he is.

“We have a great group of 10 and 11 year olds getting better at sailing every week, this Amlin Series has been a fantastic opportunity for them all to prove to themselves they can challenge the older sailors. We look forward to the winter period where they will turn their attention to Winter Training and less time racing. It will be interesting to track the sailors further progress next Spring.”

The 5th race of the day was a combined race with both Gold and Silver Fleet sailors racing together. Matilda Nicholls finished 1st with Peter Dill 2nd and Ben Smith 3rd, they were hotly pursued by Adriana Penruddocke and Tayte Stefaniuk. Leading Silver Fleet sailor Felix Cutler was 11th with Adam Larson close on his heels in 12th.

The Amlin Autumn Series comes to an end next weekend, but after 3 full days of racing in Series 2 the top of the Fleet remains close with Matilda Nicholls and Campbell Patton in pole position to take the Gold Fleet Series and Felix Cutler a few points ahead of Adam Larson in the Silver Series. There is still lots to race for….

#BermudaSailing

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