IOCA GBR Optimist Selection Trials 2025 at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

by Andy Ramus 12 May 04:11 PDT 2-5 May 2025

IOCA GBR Optimist Selection Trials at Weymouth © Nick O'Donnald

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.

With 77 sailors on the start line and testing conditions throughout, the Selections delivered a regatta full of drama, tactical brilliance, and standout performances.

Day 1: Waiting on the Wind

PRO Tim Hancock faced a classic conundrum on Friday, how to deliver racing with a teasing breeze that never quite came or settled. With a stubborn sea breeze cancelling out the gradient wind, racing was ultimately abandoned for the day.

Forecasts promised better to come, and sailors left the boat park hoping for more action as the weekend unfolded.

Day 2: A Game of Two Halves

Saturday brought another race management puzzle and racing was set to be scheduled around a midday calm spell. An early start allowed two races before the land heated up, with another two added late in the day as the air cooled.

Rising talent Charlie Holland claimed the first bullet, with Jonny Rogers (Lymington) striking back in Race 2 after a dramatic tacking duel to the finish. Isle of Wight sailors Bear Baker and Sean Di Salle also showed early promise with consistent podium finishes.

As the breeze filled in, heavier sailors capitalised. Tom Keegan took Race 3, while Laszlo Drummond followed up with a win of his own. Yet Holland and Di Salle, despite their lighter frames, adapted quickly to round out the day with a 1-2 in Race 4, keeping the leaderboard tight.

IOCA GBR Optimist Selection Trials at Weymouth - photo © Nick O'Donnald

Day 3: Classic Weymouth, Classic Racing

Sunday served up near-perfect racing conditions with a shifty north easterly blowing 12-15 knots. Smart tactical sailing was the order of the day. Wilbur De La Haye (Hayling Island) found the shifts in Race 5, while Holland returned to form with another dominant bullet in Race 6.

As the wind strengthened into the afternoon, heavyweight Finn Ramus (also Hayling) found his groove, scoring back-to-back wins and vaulting up the leader board after a slower start to the event.

Day 4: All to Play For

Monday dawned with a fresh north easterly and high tension in the boat park. With Holland, Rogers, and Drummond in strong positions, the final spots on the teams were wide open. The battle for places 4 through to 8 came down to the wire, separated by just a handful of points.

Patrick Di Salle made a late charge, posting two bullets and climbing to fifth overall. Ramus did enough to hang on to fourth, while Drummond and Rogers stayed solid to secure third and second, respectively. But the week belonged to 12-year-old Charlie Holland, who sealed victory with a race to spare, finishing a remarkable 17 points clear. His combination of boat speed, composure, and tactical insight made him a standout in a fleet packed with talent.

Charlie Holland, overall winner - IOCA GBR Optimist Selection Trials at Weymouth - photo © Fanny Rogers

Thanks and Looking Ahead

Our thanks go to Tim Hancock and his team for delivering top quality race management in often fickle conditions, as well as to the many parents and volunteers behind the scenes. A huge thanks also to WPNSA for hosting another world-class event.

The Optimist class continues to thrive as the premier youth racing fleet worldwide, with over 150,000 active sailors from 120 nations, and judging by the talent on display in Weymouth, the future of British sailing is in very safe hands.

See you at the Nationals in July.

Worlds team - IOCA GBR Optimist Selection Trials at Weymouth - photo © Fanny Rogers

Worlds Team, Slovenia 2025:

Charlie Holland
Jonny Rogers
Laszlo Drummond
Finn Ramus
Patrick Di Salle

Euros Team - IOCA GBR Optimist Selection Trials at Weymouth - photo © Fanny Rogers

Europeans Team, Turkey 2025:

Sean Di Salle
Bear Baker
Fraser Hakes
Jacques Kent
Isla Hutchinson
Gracie Allsopp
Lizzie Hudson

Development 1 team - IOCA GBR Optimist Selection Trials at Weymouth - photo © Fanny Rogers

Event Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	Pts
1st	6680	Charlie Holland	1	2	6	2	8	1	5	2	4	1	2	‑9	34
2nd	6681	Jonny Rogers	3	1	3	7	6	‑13	6	9	5	2	3	6	51
3rd	6659	Laszlo Drummond	4	13	2	3	4	2	4	12	9	‑18	6	2	61
4th	6655	Finn Ramus	8	6	‑50	18	7	8	1	1	8	13	7	4	81
5th	6631	Patrick Di Salle	6	14	8	4	‑19	14	14	8	7	6	1	1	83
6th	6639	Sean Di Salle	2	5	5	1	2	15	‑68	3	18	23	8	10	92
7th	6635	Isla Hutchinson	9	8	16	(BFD)	3	6	9	5	19	4	4	11	94
8th	6675	Bear Baker	13	4	12	6	11	4	3	15	22	10	10	‑23	110
9th	6687	Jacques Kent	5	34	‑41	15	16	3	7	18	15	5	14	3	135
10th	6593	Fraser Hakes	16	‑51	28	8	27	25	2	6	3	11	15	14	155
11th	6686	Gracie Allsopp	18	20	13	13	21	12	10	16	‑23	7	11	17	158
12th	6644	Tom Keegan	21	‑48	1	5	5	31	13	4	1	35	32	25	173
13th	6685	Nia Byrne	15	36	17	10	13	22	8	‑48	13	22	13	8	177
14th	6608	Rufus De La Haye	25	‑58	27	21	14	10	15	11	14	8	19	31	195
15th	6618	Wilbur De La Haye	11	42	‑64	23	1	SCP	11	33	6	9	9	26	200
16th	6682	Lizzie Hudson	7	21	11	(BFD)	12	23	26	17	28	26	17	24	212
17th	6660	Stella Davey	14	16	21	19	20	19	16	36	‑41	3	35	18	217
18th	6674	Darcy Odonnell	33	15	22	39	9	9	17	34	‑40	15	20	22	235
19th	6684	Freddie Jones	28	‑39	9	17	23	11	33	19	33	27	24	13	237
20th	6646	Max Ellis‑Asquith	19	19	‑44	27	35	21	24	14	38	12	5	28	242
21st	6650	Edward West	22	22	25	9	18	17	44	7	20	29	30	‑66	243
22nd	6615	Meri Greenaway	‑48	45	26	36	15	7	20	29	17	21	21	19	256
23rd	6657	Callum Marshall	17	24	23	29	26	34	12	13	‑54	20	51	15	264
24th	6515	Rupert Garlick	20	11	39	28	‑52	29	25	30	37	14	16	SCP	280
25th	6563	Rupert Purnell	30	7	18	12	42	35	23	25	34	31	‑47	30	287
26th	6594	Finn Byrne	47	35	4	35	32.5	16	36	47	10	16	‑53	12	290.5
27th	6472	William Shaw	12	33	14	26	24	44	43	10	‑70	19	26	41	292
28th	6505	Guy Kent	23	‑64	10	22	10	26	59	51	12	24	28	34	299
29th	6620	Chloe Davis	‑43	17	15	20	28	20	30	38	25	33	38	36	300
30th	6432	Oscar Coates	76	55	(BFD)	16	37	27	18	28	2	17	18	21	315
31st	6446	Sam Machell	71	53	57	(BFD)	25	18	21	24	16	28	25	5	343
32nd	6677	Rory Luddington	26	18	66	(BFD)	53	48	19	31	11	25	31	20	348
33rd	6649	Alice Atkin	36	41	29	‑47	32.5	36	34	26	32	34	22	29	351.5
34th	6474	Felix Gladman	‑52	44	35	33	31	30	39	32	49	39	23	16	371
35th	6381	Carwyn Parry	24	26	43	32	17	39	41	45	31	48	41	‑52	387
36th	6632	Charlotte Davis	27	30	19	14	22	38	47	40	53	58	43	‑72	391
37th	6583	Natalie Ayling	32	10	32	(BFD)	58	28	22	20	57	50	54	37	400
38th	6630	Arthur Pattison	29	28	20	37	57	43	50	52	26	44	37	‑64	423
39th	6144	Monty Levell	49	9	36	24	55	47	40	53	36	41	‑69	38	428
40th	6484	Isabella Deas	65	56	47	38	39	24	37	44	‑69	32	12	39.5	433.5
41st	6651	Merryn Wealthy	‑64	32	37	44	41	32	52	49	30	43	45	35	440
42nd	6617	Finley Browne	‑61	38	60	25	40	37	32	39	44	53	36	42	446
43rd	6275	Theodore Fox	10	3	7	11	49	53	72	‑76	73	74	39	70	461
44th	6652	Roisin Epstein	35	40	51	50	46	42	28	41	52	38	‑56	44	467
45th	5844	Robby Mayo	34	12	45	52	‑76	52	42	50	47	47	33	68	482
46th	6546	Felix Palmer Ward	38	50	24	40	44	40	65	23	58	‑73	58	45	485
47th	6517	Tomos Martin	56	‑68	54	30	63	63	29	27	59	40	40	27	488
48th	6551	Elvi Coates	46	59	56	(BFD)	34	49	38	59	45	49	27	33	495
49th	6439	Jack Ward	55	46	53	48	47	46	‑62	43	42	37	29	50	496
50th	6330	Thomas Child	‑74	27	68	51	29	41	67	57	35	42	49	32	498
51st	6334	Cara Lynch	37	62	59	43	‑71	33	48	60	24	46	48	43	503
52nd	6105	Sam Wealthy	62	61	55	62	38	45	27	21	39	‑63	46	48	504
53rd	6524	Leon Grundy	66	29	48	34	30	64	45	‑69	29	59	66	59	529
54th	6013	Lochlyn Grant	58	25	40	54	45	54	58	22	63	‑65	57	54	530
55th	6666	Zoe Green	‑73	65	33	42	51	57	35	55	55	30	60	51	534
56th	6282	Finlay Ritchie	31	69	61	41	43	‑70	63	37	21	56	62	56	540
57th	6229	Kit Bentall	40	47	30.5	(BFD)	70	62	46	64	27	68	52	39.5	546
58th	6269	Ruben Hernandez‑Woodd	‑75	75	46	31	50	55	56	46	43	36	73	63	574
59th	6342	Amelie Renard	44	‑76	63	69	59	58	31	61	68	64	34	46	597
60th	6555	Eleanor Hughes	69	57	34	49	‑73	56	61	42	65	45	63	57	598
61st	6633	Henry Finch	53	71	30.5	55	69	50	55	35	71	70	50	‑74	609.5
62nd	6689	Lumia Greenaway	50	70	49	60	61	61	51	66	48	51	‑74	47	614
63rd	6643	Finnian Keegan	45	72	42	46	36	65	‑73	65	60	52	70	62	615
64th	6416	Emily Franklin	51	‑73	69	45	56	69	57	62	56	67	42	55	629
65th	6610	Joshua Ayling	72	49	73	67	48	68	49	54	50	57	59	(SCP)	646
66th	5500	Alex Welfare	54	66	62	53	62	60	66	58	46	62	‑71	61	650
67th	6596	Maddy White	41	23	38	57	60	67	53	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	655
68th	6501	Ayla Griffiths	57	52	58	59	75	59	75	56	‑77	61	64	65	681
69th	6541	Jack Harding	60	54	‑72	58	68	72	64	67	66	69	55	49	682
70th	6591	Hector Jackson	42	74	75	70	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	51	55	44	53	701
71st	6394	Josie Clark	70	‑77	76	56	54	66	54	71	62	60	65	67	701
72nd	6609	Eloise Mccarthy	39	60	67	65	65	‑77	71	68	61	71	67	71	705
73rd	6658	Oscar Stephens	67	43	70	61	66	51	‑74	72	67	72	72	73	714
74th	6440	Rose Versey	‑77	67	71	64	64	71	60	63	75	54	68	58	715
75th	6688	Amelia Browne	63	31	52	63	72	75	70	70	74	76	‑77	75	721
76th	6507	Sam Bourke	59	37	74	68	74	73	‑77	75	72	75	76	77	760
77th	6346	Felicity Knibb	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	67	76	69	73	64	66	61	69	782
78th	6344	Finlay White	68	63	65	66	‑77	74	76	74	76	77	75	76	790