Prestwick Sailing Club Scottish Youth Optimist Regatta
by Finn & Cam Ritchie 5 Jun 06:35 PDT
3-4 June 2023
24 junior sailors made the journey to a very sunny Prestwick Sailing Club for an Optimist, Topper & Feva youth regatta on the 3rd & 4th of June. It was the Scottish Championships for the Optimist fleet, with 10 sailors competing across the main and regatta fleets.
A very light breeze arrived on the Saturday and the decision was made to postpone by an hour. The fleet eventually launched and after an epic hour sail to the start line, the breeze had built enough to get proceedings under way.
In the main fleet, Andrew Perratt dominated winning all three races on the Saturday. Race 2 saw both Andrew and Finn Ritchie over the line, both opted to go right with the rest of the fleet going left, with Andrew tacking back and Finn carrying on looking for that elusive big shift that never came! Race 3 saw Hector Jackson put in a great race holding second, only to get dealt an unlucky hand and be overhauled by Finn and Logan Brown in a dropping breeze on the finish line. With race 3 completed and the breeze gone, the fleet made for shore.
In the regatta fleet, five short races were held just off the beach. Cam Ritchie sailed very consistently to win all five races, including just pipping an unlucky Jamie Shelley in race 2 on the finish line.
Sunday dawned and again the breeze did not play ball. After a 30-minute postponement the fleet launched, and racing got under way with Isla MacLeod joining the main fleet.
It was a repeat of Saturday in the main fleet with a very light breeze allowing only two races to be sailed which Andrew (Helensburgh SC) won leaving him the Senior Scottish Champion, Logan (Helensburgh SC) 2nd and Finn (Aberdeen & Stonehaven YC) 3rd and Junior Scottish Champion and Isla MacLeod Senior Girl Scottish Champion.
In the regatta fleet, four races were sailed, and it was all change at the front with Clarissa Jackson winning the first two races of the day. Clarissa fed Cameron some chocolate after race 2 and he revived his performance to take race 3, but Clarissa was back in charge in race 4 taking the win. It was great to see the improvement in the fleet over the weekend and in particular from Lily Hopkins and Charlotte McGaughey who kept Clarissa and Cam on their toes. Overall Cam (Aberdeen & Stonehaven YC) took the win and is the Regatta Fleet Scottish Champion, with Clarissa (St Mary's Loch SC) 2nd and Junior Girl Scottish Champion and Lily (Largs SC) 3rd.
Thanks to Prestwick Sailing Club for hosting the event and full results can be found at www.prestwicksailingclub.co.uk/results
The fleet moves onto the fabulous venue of Loch Tummel Sailing Club on the weekend of the 17th and 18th June for the next event, which is part of the RYA Scotland Youth and Junior Championships. There is a main fleet and a coached regatta fleet aimed at all levels of sailing and the Scottish Optimists look forward to seeing you there. Not sure if it is for you? Drop us a line at Scottish Optimist Sailing and Racing on Facebook with any questions.