Pacific Rim - Open International Optimist Regatta

by Media Services on 31 Dec 2006 Representatives from Hong Kong, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore and Sweden have assembled at the beautiful Mornington Peninsula location where Sail Melbourne is hosting the first ever international International Optimist Dinghy Regatta at Mornington Yacht Club, the Pacific Rim and Open International Optimist Regatta.

The Open Fleet is racing offshore, whilst inshore we have the Green Fleet racing in Opti’s and OziOpti training dinghies for novices, siblings and those kids that have been doing ‘Little Tackers’, this has increased participation levels and given the smaller kids a chance to get out on the track.

After two days of racing, five races have been completed with Norwegian Harald Faeste leading the series, closely followed by Singaporean brothers Peter and Mark Wong in second and third positions; Brad Wearn from Western Australia is in fourth position and the leading Australian. Top Girl is Milly Bennett from NSW in seventh place overall.

In the Green Fleet the girls are in control with Elin Klitte from Sweden showing a clean score sheet with five wins, Mornington junior Charlotte De Lange in second with John Radnell of Davey’s Bay YC in third position.

New entries in the Optimist class at Mornington include sailors from Chelsea YC, Somers YC and Davey’s Bay YC, plus there are some names synonymous with sailing; Ollie Wharington, son of Skandia skipper Grant is competing in his first sailing regatta as are Isabella and Jemima Hart, daughters of boatbuilder Mal.

The regatta concludes on the third of January and is a lead up for many competitors to the Australian Optimist Championships being conducted at Sandy Bay Sailing Club, Hobart between January 7th and 13th .2007. Entries are still open for this regatta

The Optimists are an internationally sailed class and with the introduction of Australian Optimist Sailing Team (AOST) selections at Hobart. the Australian Championships has attracted many leading Sabot sailors including Sabot Nationals series leader John Linacre (Vic) and Sean Ott (QLD).

The AOST squad of 15 has Yachting Australia endorsement and coaching support at Adelaide International Regatta in March, NZ Nationals at Easter and the Singapore Nationals in June.

For further information on the Pacific Rim Championships, see www.sailmelbourne.com.au

For further information on the Australian Optimist Championships and the AOST see www.aioda.com.

With 47 junior sailors competing in this championship Steven Bond from Ozi Opti has played a huge part in organising this event. With more than half the boats in the Open fleet chartered from Ozi Opti it has enabled many international sailors to compete easily rather than having to ship their own boats over to Australia, and Steven is on site to provide back up and support for the equipment.

As all Ozi Optis are made to the strict one design rules all the sailors are competing on an equal footing with the best sailor winning. For more details on chartering or buying one of the worlds most popular junior sailing boats go to www.oziopti.com.au