Optimist Sailors Continue Competing In Italy
Day four at the IODA Optimist World Championships saw improvement for most of Team Bermuda on the waters of Lake Garda, Italy but officials were only able to complete one of the two scheduled races due to the arrival of unstable weather in the late afternoon.
Earlier in the day they were forced to wait longer than usual for the southerly wind but eventually they enjoyed a steady 10-12 knots for the first group of starts. As the first four flights of races progressed the wind continually decreased making it challenging for the sailors. Towards the end of the first races the strong westerly wind arrived and all fleets were instructed to quickly head for shore. Tomorrow (Wednesday) the Race Committee hope to complete 3 races, if the wind conditions are more stable.
L-R: Ceci Wollmann, Benn Smith, Mikey Wollmann, Chase Cooper, Campbell Patton:
Chase Cooper scored a 21st to lift him from 91st to the 87th position overall in the 259 boat fleet while Ceci Wollmann scored a 46 which dropped her slightly to the 100th position.
Campbell Patton’s 13th today was the top score for Team Bermuda and boosted him up the leader board to 117th. It was his third top twenty finish of the regatta. Benn Smith improved his position with a 26th and he currently sits in 154th. Mikey Wollmann also moved up four places overall with his finish of 37th, leaving him in 159th.
With two days until the conclusion of the Optimist World Championship in Riva del Garda, Italy, the overwhelming power of Singapore is confirmed with 4 athletes in the top 6. Singaporean Loh Jia Yi, with a scoreline of 1-1-1-2-3-2 recorded a 23rd today but continues to lead, 5 points ahead of German Nils Sternbeck.
Sternbeck today scored a good second, and third overall is Swiss Damian Suri, who finished fifth today. Nipping at the heels of the top three are the trio of Singapore with Edward Tan, fourth just one point from the podium, followed by teammates Han Bertha and Koh Kun.
The results after 7 races are here [PDF], and the event can also be followed tomorrow [July 24] on the web thanks to live streaming here and GPS tracking here. Team Bermuda is supported by Aspen Insurance and the Kitson Group of Companies.
- Photo by Julie Smith
