Optimists - Kiwi team reports on Asian Championships in Sri Lanka

by Bob McCutcheon on 29 Jul 2016 The 2016 NZ Optimist Asians Team have recently returned from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka having enjoyed lovely sailing conditions, excellent food and accommodation, and warm, friendly hosts.

The Team arrived after flights through Singapore, into Colombo, followed by a 7 hour bus ride to the east coast of Sri Lanka. The temperatures were in the low 30's, with offshore winds ranging from 13-25kts, which remained for the duration of the regatta. The setup was excellent, the boats stored on the beach in front of the hotel, with plenty of rig-racks and wash-down facilities.

Unfortunately, a combination of heatstroke, dehydration and tummy bugs swept through the Team, such that only six could make it to the Opening Ceremony, with only seven sailors making it out on to the racecourse when racing began. The NZ Team were not the only ones with some sickness, with other Teams reporting problems, although all made in out racing. The breezy conditions suited the kiwis who have had a summer to forget, with light winds plaguing most regattas and training leading up to the event.

After two days of qualifying there were five sailors in Gold fleet, and five (including the kids who hadn't sailed all races) in Silver fleet. . With five Worlds Teams there, and a few Americans who were in Portugal, the standard was very high, and the NZ team performed very well, considering....

Before the Finals series took place, the Teams Racing Championship was run in very breezy conditions. The Kiwis were not seeded well and up against one of the powerhouses Malaysia in the first race, with World Champs Singapore next up..... The first race went well, with NZL beating MAS convincingly. The Team was ahead of SIN for most of the race, before a protest cost them, and they narrowly lost. Won against JPN, lost to AUS 1, and sailed back to the beach for a lovely afternoon at the pool.... Turns out that the only team MAS lost to was NZL, who went on to beat SIN in the final.

The wind was still in for the Finals Series of the 2016 Asian and Oceanian Championships, with a gusty, shifty 18-22kt offshore (warm) wind. The kiwis kept their best results till last, with some excellent results against top opposition.

Robbie survived a protest to finish 13th overall and third in the Oceanian Championship, followed by Emily and Luke (31, 32), Joel (38) and Rebecca (48). In Silver Fleet Brayden had a great final day to take 11th and first Oceanian Silver, followed by Ashton who missed 3 races but still finished 12th. Greta was 27th with two other sickness casualties Lachlan and Harry in 32nd and 36th respectively.

The Closing Ceremony and Prizegiving was a great spectacle, with local music and dancing, and the NZ Team performing a Haka.

Overall a great regatta, with a stunning setting, very friendly people and world class sailing conditions. Thanks to all involved in making it a great trip/regatta, especially the coaches, Team Manager Matt Cashmore, and everyone who did their bit looking after the sick children...

The 10-person team comprised

Luke Cashmore (Wakatere)
Robbie McCutcheon (Wakatere)
Brayden Hamilton (Wakatere)
Greta Pilkington (Murrays Bay)
Rebecca Morgan (Kohimarama)
Ashton Guy (Kohimarama)
Lachlan Dillon (Tauranga)
Joel Kennedy (Tauranga),
Harry Edwards (Queen Charlotte) and
Emily Overend (Queen Charlotte)

Coaches were Emma Berry and Tam Lindsay

The 2017 IODA Asians and Oceanian Championships will be held in Hong Kong in September next year.