Sailing: Benn Smith Leads BODA Selection Trials
Current Bermuda National Optimist Champion, Benn Smith, leads the group aiming to represent Bermuda at this year’s IODA World Championships. Organized by the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA), this weekend’s racing represented part one of the local selection trials.
Part two will be sailed April 20th & 21st. The top five sailors at the end of part two will qualify to represent Bermuda at the 2013 IODA World Championships in Italy this July.
Race Officer Charles Tatem and his team were able to complete five races on Saturday and another three on Sunday with wind conditions ranging from 5 to 20 knots from the west and southwest. After eight races Smith sits with 14 points, a 6 point lead over 2nd placed Ceci Wollmann with 20 points.
Chase Cooper had to break a tie with Campbell Patton to secure the 3rd position. Both have 23 points. Rounding out the top group is Mikey Wollmann in 5th with 33 points and Matilda Nicholls in 6th with 35 points. 23 sailors in total raced this weekend.
Prior to resuming the World’s selection trials in April, BODA is sending a five sailor team to Porto Alegre, Brazil to compete in the IODA South American Championships March 21 – 31. The SA team consists of trials leader, Benn Smith and Chase Cooper from the RBYC along with Ceci, Wollmann, Mikey Wollmann and Peter Dill from the RHADC. They will be accompanied by BODA High Performance Coach Martin Jenkins.
