2020 Tasmanian Optimist State Championship and Green Fleet Regatta - Overall
by Jane Austin 1 Mar 2020 21:46 AEDT
29 February - 1 March 2020
Hobart sailor Adelaide O'Donoghue has clinched the Tasmanian International Optimist State Title in fine style winning five of the six races sailed in the Open Fleet on the River Derwent this weekend.
O'Donoghue, a 13-year-old student from The Friends' School, sailed her boat Grit with a determination and maturity beyond her years, securing the title with five points after one discard in the 16 boat fleet.
O'Donoghue went into the second day of racing on equal five points with Charles Pavlides, but Pavlides lost ground after some tough wind shifts taking a 2,4,4, on the last day.
An excited O'Donoghue was happy with the weekend of 'hard racing,' but credited her win to her ability to 'staying calm and focused, spending lots of time on the water, remembering to hike, and to keep the boat flat.'
O'Donoghue heads to Tallinn in Estonia in June this year to represent Australia in the 2020 Optimist European Championship. O'Donoghue heaped generous praise on Pavlides, second on 11 points, and Hong Kong-based Emily Polson who finished third on 13 points.
"Charles and Emily are very good competition, we are all actually about the same level, so the sailor who wins is the one who is ready on the start line each time," said O'Donoghue.
The Intermediate fleet was won by Edward Steedman (six points) from Tom Hugo (14 points) and Martha Read (19 points). The Green Fleet Regatta, which is focused on development and fun, sailed five races on Sunday with Sam Nicholas, Edward Huys and Georgina Hill the top three sailors.
More information at ryct.org.au/sailing/opti-states-2020