Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Optimist Thames Valley Champs at Dorchester Sailing Club

by Carol Lloyd 4 Jul 2006 07:20 PDT
42 competitors for the Dorchester Optimist open © Carol Lloyd

Despite the weather forecast of 2mph winds, a warm day with a gentle pulsating breeze of 5 knots greeted the 42 competitors to Dorchester on Thames for the Dorchester Optimist Open and Thames Valley Championship. The main fleet comprised 16 competitors with the remaining 26 in the Regatta fleet.

The first race started around 11am after much deliberation on the course shape and size. The breeze picked up just after the main fleet started and a short positioning of the windward mark fooled the leaders into over shooting the mark. Dorchester’s Katie Russell spotted the error and took advantage to lead for the first lap eventually being caught by Papercourt’s Aaron Smith and Wraysbury’s Chris Taylor. The Regatta fleet were keen to start and had a general recall before getting away cleanly. The first race was won by Papercourt’s Anneloes Boers, followed by Ben Batten of Lymington and Tom O’Leary of Queensmead.

The second race saw the windward mark moved further down the lake as the breeze held and this time it was Ross Williams of Grafham Water that took 1st place followed by Chris Taylor and Aaron Smith. In the Regatta fleet it was only Ben Batten who held his form to finish 3rd with David Paul of Wraysbury finishing 1st and Papercourt’s David Thomas finishing 2nd.

After lunch the wind switched direction completely and the course was reversed for what turned out to be the last race of the day as the breeze failed. Aaron Smith took the last race to win the Open and retain the Thames Valley Champion’s trophy. Chris Taylor remained consistent to finish 2nd and 2nd overall, Liam Garrison finished 3rd. In the Regatta fleet it was Tom O’Leary that won the last race with David Paul 2nd and Ben Batten 3rd. As only 3 races were sailed there was no discard which gave the leader’s trophy to the consistent Ben Batten followed by Tom O’Leary and David Paul.

Dorchester sailing would like to thank Dinghy Sailing Magazine, IBI Sailing and Ace Boats for contributing to the prizes.

Overall Results:

PosOpen FleetThames Valley ChampionshipRegatta Fleet
1stAaron Smith (Papercourt)Aaron Smith (Papercourt)Ben Batten (Lymington)
2ndChris Taylor (Wraysbury)Chris Taylor (Wraysbury)Tom O’Leary (Queensmead)
3rdRoss Williams (Grafham Water)Nicholas Smith (Bowmoor)David Paul (Wraysbury
4thLiam Garrison (Lymington)Will Harris (Papercourt)Xander Morrison (Papercourt)
5thNicholas Smith (Bowmoor)Katie Russell (Dorchester)Anneloes Boers (Papercourt)
6thMark Billowes (Bristol Corinthian)James Taylor (Wraysbury)Richard Stevenson (Dorchester)

Related Articles

Bosham Sailing Club Junior Regatta
A gob-smacking 90+ entries tak part A gob-smacking 90+ entries for the Bosham SC Junior Regatta, aligned with a late high tide and a wedding marquee on the meadow normally used for rigging and de-rigging created a unique challenge to celebrate its newly acquired RYA Pathway Club status. Posted on 3 Jun
2025 Lypo-C Enoshima Olympic Week
Next-generation sailors and Olympians clash in international waters The 2025 Lypo-C Enoshima Olympic Week concluded after three days of high-level competition, bringing together 302 boats from five countries and highlighting both Olympic-calibre talent and rising youth sailors. Posted on 1 Jun
Coaching with Data
Inside an Optimist training session with 2025 GB Worlds sailors Join Charlie Holland and Finn Ramus - freshly selected for the 2025 GB Optimist Worlds Team - as they analyse their sprit load data using Cyclops Marine's real time load sensors. Posted on 29 May
Enter now for Chichester Harbour Race Week
Last year nearly 600 competitors in 383 boats attended Book your place at the biggest dinghy and keelboat regatta in the UK! With the website open, you can now reserve your place in this year's 'must attend' event. Starting on Monday 11th August, ending on 15th. Posted on 24 May
Entries open for Parkstone Youth Week
Different from most sailing regattas - and now with a Roman Empire theme There will a Gladitorial display of sailing and fun off the water activities, encompassing the spirit of Ancient Rome, starting in just 12 weeks' time. So, as Caesar raises his thumb it is time for you to sign up to the highlight of the Roman calendar. Posted on 23 May
Optimist Team Racing at Oxford
'Team Gust Busters' wins the Ramus Trophy 'Team Gust Busters' won the Ramus Trophy after claiming victory at the IOCA (UK) Team Racing Championships at Oxford Sailing Club on 17th-18th May 2025. Posted on 20 May
Magic Marine UK Optimist open meeting at Hayling
Lucky enough to have huge support from both local marine and non-marine businesses The weekend of 10th/11th May saw 122 Optimist Sailors gather at Hayling Island Sailing Club to race in the Magic Marine UK HISC Optimist Open in perfect Hayling conditions. Posted on 16 May
ROTTERs return at Ripon
25 sailors under 14 enjoy MarioKart sailing and other fun activities Following a successful Discover Sailing day on the 5th May Ripon Sailing Club's ROTTERs met at the club on 10th May for their next planned session and were joined by lots of new members, with 25 sailors between the ages of 4 and 14. Posted on 16 May
Corinthian Otters Explore Lion Creek
The excitement is instant, the novices are wide-eyed to the tales from the old salts The excitement is instant, the novice adventurers wide-eyed to the tales from the old salts who have been before. It's a firm favourite among the young sailors and parents lucky enough the claim a crew spot on the support boats. Posted on 15 May
IOCA GBR Optimist Selection Trials
Tactical masterclass in Weymouth The best of Britain's young Optimist sailors gathered in Weymouth last weekend for four days of high-stakes racing, vying for spots on the 2025 World, European, and Development Teams. Posted on 12 May
Selden 2020 - FOOTERExposure MarineTrofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025