IOCA UK Optimist Nationals at Largs Sailing Club - Day 5
by Sandy Ramus 5 Aug 03:09 PDT
30 July - August 2022
Thursday saw 15-20knts from the west making for some stunning sailing conditions.
The juniors were up first and again it was a day to be looking up and tracking the black clouds that rolled though the otherwise clear blue Scottish sky. The Seniors were again struggling to get clean starts and the RO was quick to bring in the black flag and disqualify a few sailors. This came to a head in race 2 when the Juniors had a general recall on a black flag start resulting in 10 sailors having to sit the race out.
Seniors Race 1 went to the ever consistent Lila Edwards, and the Juniors went to Australia's Murray Duthie, his second win of the regatta.
Race 2 saw Junior Finn Ramus hammer the right had side finding a great shift and solid pressure meaning that by the winward mark he had a commanding lead. He never looked back and got his first National's win. Jasper Anderson in the French boat again showed us he is a force to be reckon with in the breeze taking the bullet from Ralph Surguy.
Race 3 and 4 saw the wind speed build again with Largs really coming to life and showing the sailors what a fabulous championship venue it is. It was good to see Senior Will Webster winning race 3 after having had a few difficult races, while the French were at it again with Charles Ganivet squaring one away after the disappointment of his black flag in race 2.
The last race of the day saw Maurits Melens of Holland gaining his second Junior fleet win of the regatta and the experience of Will Fletcher came shining through giving him the line for the seniors
Good sailing conditions for Regatta Coached and Regatta Racing fleets today, with a few wind shifts throughout to keep everyone on their toes. Regatta Coached completed 1 race and abandoned 1, while Regatta Racing completed 4 races. Really well done to Henry Cruse, Beth Llewellyn and Poppy Armstrong who made great progress throughout the day! Overall a great day of sailing, and everyone is raring to go for the last day of racing tomorrow!
Results so far can be found here...