2009 African Optimist Championships

by RSA Optimist Championship media on 16 Jul 2009 News from the 2009 African Optimist Championships being held in Richards Bay and hosted by the Zululand Yacht Club.

Tuesday 14 - evening
Following postponement of the fleet racing, all 36 races in the round robin format Team racing were completed. The only disappointment was that the new IODA team racing course could not be used due to the confines of the sailing area.

The South African team dominated and won all their races. However for the minor places there was lots of excitement with Angola taking the second position from Algeria in a tie breaker. The Tunisian team joined up with the two Australian sailors who had been doing so well in the fleet racing, to also end on the same points as Angola and Algeria.

Tomorrow the championship will revert to fleet racing and the forecast is for light winds which may benefit some sailors who have found the stronger winds more challenging.

As always Africa is full of surprises and Richard’s Bay is no exception with a hippo and her calf taking up residence in the bay alongside the yacht club.

Tuesday 14
Due to the strength of the wind and the rough sea state, the team racing will run inside the harbour today. Before the sailors went afloat they had a short briefing from Peter Johnson (GBR), a member of the jury here in Richards Bay and a highly respected team racing ‘expert’ , about the course and the tactical options on each leg.

Monday 13
The wind blew hard from the NNEast today, about 18 knots. After four attempts to start the first race, the sailors got away in what was an increasing wind. There were two races held in these challenging conditions with sailors from seven different countries taking the top ten places.

1st 12 AUS539 James Oliver
2nd 24 RSA1281 Alex Lehtinen
3rd 6 ALG222 Zakaria Khoualed
4th 18 MRI21 Denis Pierre
5th 9 ANG154 Marco Torres
6th 5 ALG900 Imene Ouneyssa Cherif Sahraoui
7th 33 RSA1263 Tiran Long
8th 19 MRI95 Alexandre Adam
9th 40 TAN26 Tarick Nielsen
10th 44 TUN85 Mohamed Raouf Ben Naceur

Sunday 12
Due to 25kt winds and a big Indian Ocean swell, it was prudently decided not to have the practice race. The sailors however did go out and sail in the protected harbour area.

Measurement has been completed, so all 51 sailors from nine countries are ready for tomorrows first day of racing. The Opening Ceremony was a very festive occasion starting with a procession of sailors and officials on local yachts and power boats, through the marina. Everyone was then met on the dock by Zulu dancers and singers who led the procession of sailors. After the formal raising of national flags and mixing of the waters the sailors were entertained by the local marimba band champions before having dinner.

Event website - http://optimist.co.za/ocra/regattas.php?cat=26