Australian Optimist Championships – Wild and windy on Day 3
by Elisha Keating on 7 Jan 2014
SW
On the 2014 Hart Marine Australian Optimist Championships third day another wild and windy day greeted competitors. With racing scheduled to begin at 10:00a.m., and with average wind speeds exceeding 25 knots, it was no surprise that the decision was made early to postpone all Green Fleet racing for the day.
Principal Race Officer Chris Jackson, and Green Fleet Race Officer Chris Schwartz sat down with Green Fleet this morning for their morning briefing, informing competitors and parents that having fun was the priority.
With winds staying in the high twenties and with further rain squalls hindering visibility, AP over A soon followed for the Intermediate Fleet at 11:30, and finally all racing for the Open Fleet postponed until tomorrow at 2:00p.m.
With the Bureau of Meteorology predicting wind forecasts of 15-20 knots by dawn tomorrow, the racing schedule remains unchanged for tomorrow, starting from 10:00a.m.
With the loss of racing for today, the regatta lay day, scheduled for Wednesday, will be changed to a race day to get the regatta back on schedule.
Last night the opening function for the event was held, with officials and dignitaries from Mornington Yacht Club, AIODA, Yachting Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, and the State Government of Victoria in attendance.
The event was also subject to some impromptu entertainment, with Victorian Optimist Coach David White hosting a ‘game of chance’ to decide second and third place in the Australian Optimist Teams Racing Championships.
After a nail-biting roll of a novelty dice, WAIODA Yellow, consisting of Campbell Stewart HYC, Josh Pang HYC, Isabelle Kenny SoPYC, Oliver Mavrick SoPYC came out victorious, and awarded second Australian team, with WAIODA Green (Jayden Dalton FSC, Rome Featherstone FSC, Geordie Sicree FSC, and Ainslea Kipling SoPYC) awarded third Australian.
Event website:
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