Optimist Open at Warsash Sailing Club
by Roger Cerrato 5 Jul 23:03 PDT
3 July 2021
Whilst 1,200 yachts of all shapes and sizes set off on the Round The Island Race 82 young Optimist sailors and their families arrived at Warsash SC for a one day Open.
With an early evening High Water parents and sailors alike were happy with the relaxed start to the day with plenty of time before the briefing at 11am. If there was an award for "furthest travelled" that would have been awarded to the Self family who came all the way from Cardiff Bay YC and an award for the "wetest on arrival at Warsash" would have undoubtedly gone to the Pope family from the Royal Victoria YC who sailed over on their Dragonfly trimaran!
Entries were split fairly evenly between the Main Fleet, who'd be racing out near Coronation buoy under the watchful eye of PRO Peter Knight, and the Regatta Fleet who were looked after by Nigel Russell in Cat Head Bay. Whilst reports from those racing Round The Island talked of being becalmed at some stages the Oppie sailors at Warsash enjoyed a good breeze all day, it perhaps even got a bit livelier than the Regatta fleet would have liked at times!
The NOR called for up to 5 races and the Main fleet race team managed to give the sailors their full quota so that when the fleet returned ashore at 5.30pm many of them looked absolutely exhausted! The Regatta fleet managed 4 races which is a feat in itself considering the wide spread of abilities in the group; from those preparing to step up to Main fleet at one end to sailors participating in their first open at the other.
At the prize-giving Roger Cerrato (WSC Optimist Class Captain) was pleased to hand out bespoke printed glass plaques to the winners along with a selection of other goodies from event sponsor Lewmar.
Overall Results:
Main Fleet
1st Boy & First Overall - William Fletcher (Royal Southern YC)
2nd Boy - Tom Hakes (Parkstone YC)
3rd Boy - Joe Wimpory (Bewl & HISC)
1st Girl - Tabitha Davies (Royal Lymington YC)
2nd Girl - Hennie Burlton (Royal Southern YC)
3rd Girl - Eliana Edwards (Parkstone YC)
1st Warsash SC sailor - Henry Camm
Endeavour Award - Harry Whelan (Newhaven & Seaford SC)
Regatta Fleet
1st Boy & First Overall - Jonny Rogers (Royal Lymington YC)
2nd Boy - William Hutchinson (Royal Lymington YC)
3rd Boy - Hector Davies (Royal Lymington YC)
1st Girl - Ruby Callaghan (Royal Southern YC)
2nd Girl - Lauren Barber (Royal Southern YC)
3rd Girl - Sophie Le Grice (Warsash SC)
1st Warsash SC sailor - Sophy Le Grice
Endeavour Award - Max Asquith-Ellis (Warsash SC)