Digicel Optimist Summer Sailing Series
The Pre-Optinam Optimist racing in the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club [RBYC] Summer Series continues this weekend. As the overseas sailors arrive for the big Opti North American regatta, the RBYC Race Management Team expect to be busy as many of the sailors come out to race in the Digicel-sponsored series and practice their sailing skills in Bermuda’s Great Sound.
There have been two days of racing already with 35 Bermuda sailors entered.
Day one was sailed in medium breezes of 15-20 knots, it was the turn of RBYC Sailing Academy sailor Adriana Penruddocke to shine, and she led the day after National Champion Benn Smith, who won two of the races started prematurely in race 2. 10 year old Flo Nicholls enjoyed the conditions finishing the day in 4th place overall, with Thomas Penruddocke also enjoying the stronger breezes.
Day two saw much lighter winds, which 11-year-old Grace Reeves really enjoyed; she finished the day second behind her Bermuda High School colleague Matilda Nicholls. It was great to see a number of the younger Optimist sailors come out to sail, particularly impressive performances from Fiachra McDonnell, seven, Sebastian Kempe and Tommy Barnard, both eight.
Day three saw very light and variable winds. Experienced PRO Jay Hooper was unable to get a fair race in given the conditions and no further races were sailed.
Going into the final weekend, 12-year-old Warwick Academy student Campbell Patton has a narrow one point lead over 11-year-old Matilda Nicholls. Adriana Penruddocke is third, with George Buckley and Flo Nicholls rounding out the top five.
The racing continues for two more days of racing this weekend, it will be quite a spectacle ahead of the main event.
I have noticed that these races are very bad… not only does the RC race them in very bad places, AKA granaway deep. But they also baby these kids with tiny courses…
I suggest that you learn something about opti sailing before embarrassing yourself with such a fooling comment.
And where should we race these kids? Would northrock to argus and back to hamilton harbour be better for you?
Perhaps they should participate in the Newport and Marion races every year.