Magic Marine UK Optimist open meeting 2025 at Hayling Island Sailing Club
by Sandy Ramus, Katrina Sarti & Melvin Cooper 16 May 22:54 NZST
10-11 May 2025
The weekend of 10th/11th May saw 122 Optimist Sailors gather at Hayling Island Sailing Club to race in the Magic Marine UK HISC Optimist Open in perfect Hayling conditions.
The event offers racing for all experiences. The fleet split into three fleets: Main Fleet (60 boats) for the older & more experienced, Regatta Racing (38 boats) for the younger up and coming racers and Coached Regatta Fleet (24 boats) aimed at the kids early on in their sailing and racing journey's. This fleet mixes a combination of racing and training over the weekend.
The event is lucky enough to have huge support from both local marine and non-marine businesses including Xtremity Sports, AR Design, Wickham Dental Practice, North Sails, Barracuda, and of course Magic Marine UK who's support mean the event has one of the best prize tables on the circuit making it a favourite for many.
Main Fleet Report
It's often joked that Hayling Island Sailing Club has a direct line to the weather gods—and last weekend was no exception. As competitors and families rolled in on Saturday morning, they were greeted by a classic Solent scene: clear blue skies, a fresh 15-20 knot breeze, and the unmistakable buzz of a regatta in full swing.
With the previous weekend's Selections pressures in the rear view mirror, this event was billed as a relaxed, fun-focused regatta, and it delivered in spades. Principal Race Officer Andrew Moore set the stage in Hayling's iconic West Bay, and the 60-strong main fleet wasted no time getting down to business. With a solid 16-17 knots on the racecourse, racing kicked off promptly.
In Race 1, Lymington's dynamic duo Jonny Rogers and Laszlo Drummond set the tone with a fierce battle on the O2 course. It was Drummond who edged out his team mate to take the first bullet. The day continued with close-fought duels among the front-runners. Isle of Wight sailor Patrick Di Salle claimed victory in Race 2, Rogers struck back in Race 3, and Bear Baker, also from the IOW, clinched Race 4.
The race team's efficiency allowed the full schedule to be completed in good time, giving sailors a chance to relax and enjoy the golden sands of Hayling Island. Meanwhile, shore side hospitality was in full swing, with the club laying on a top-notch BBQ and a well-stocked bar keeping parents happily refreshed.
Sunday brought an earlier start and another punchy forecast—ideal conditions for the morning, with the breeze expected to fade later. Race 5 saw local favourite Finn Ramus holding off Di Salle in a gusty 17-20 knots from the east. A choppier sea state tested the sailors' ability to maintain upwind speed, rewarding those who were willing to work the waves on all legs of the course.
Rogers and Drummond split the honours in Races 6 and 7, showing superb form and consistency throughout. The final race of the weekend came with a twist, a general recall followed by a black flag start that caught out five sailors who were a little too eager. With the top positions tightly contested, every point counted, except for Rogers, who had already secured the overall win with a race to spare. In the fading breeze, it was Baker who found his groove, taking the last win of the event.
In the end, it was Jonny Rogers who hoisted the silverware, a performance that confirmed his talent and composure—and perhaps showed that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Regatta Fleet Report
The amazing sunny and breezy conditions provided a fair level of challenge for the
competitors in the Racing Regatta Fleet. Many doing their first regatta proper, and
certainly the first this season. Sailing on the Pilsey Sands area also gave them a
pretty choppy sea state to contend with.
Despite this, it was amazing to watch the
boat handling skills and racing ability of the fleet, not to mention the plucky
determination to complete each race, despite numerous capsizes and a lot of bailing
out of their Oppies.
Three races were held on the Saturday, before we called it a day
with the average wind hitting 20knots and gusts of 23. Favouring some of the more
experienced and bigger sailors it was a close tussle with Evan Hannaby (GBR6183)
coming out top after day 1.
Sunday brought building wind in the harbour as we
approached race start time, but despite this everyone was on the course and raring
to go.
Gusting conditions and complex seas brought a number of capsizes in the first
two races, but also some fabulously skilled sailing. The wind moderated slightly for
the last 2 races and it was great to see everyone complete the course within a few
minutes of each other and no whiskey flag in sight.
It was very tight at the top going into the last race, with the final results showing the top 6 very closely matched.
Congratulations to the regatta winner, Finn Simmons - LTSC (GBR 5947), Finn also
claimed the first 10 and under prize; closely followed by William Foster - WSC (GBR
6048) and Evan Hannaby - GSC (GBR6183). In 6th Place and first girl was Evelyn
Rogerson - HISC (GBR 6521), sailing a fantastic regatta; with a clean sweep for
HISC in the girls, she was followed by Annabelle Kent - HISC (GBR 6410) and
Jaydene Cooper - HISC (GBR 5981) as second and third girls.
The Endeavour Prize was awarded to Benji Kirkham aged 10 - HISC (GBR 6531) for the determination he showed to complete the regatta, despite being tested by the conditions.
Coached Regatta Fleet Report
With blue skies overhead, this year's Optimist Coached Regatta fleet of
twenty-four got under way with a warm welcome from Lead Coach Melvyn Cooper.
The young sailors were divided into pre-prepared groups with race coaches
Milly Boyle, Megan Farrer, Rachel Pyke, Drew Gibson and Henry Keegan.
Morning briefings focused on key racing skills such as starting procedures,
race strategy, boat setup, and essential race rules.
By mid-morning on both days the tide had flooded across West Mud enabling
the launch of the Coached Regatta fleet over high water. Race Officer Simon
Hunt and ARO's Helen Wilder and Ben Rogerson provided slick, no-delay racing
throughout, while the coach team expanded their on-water brief to support
and encourage the less experienced sailors on a race course, many for their
first time competing at an open meeting.
Emsworth sailor Hazel Butterfield delivered an outstanding performance,
securing first overall in a series of five-races. Making confident starts
and finishing the series with a first in the final race to gain overall
victory.
Freddie Wilder (HISC) finished an impressive second overall one
point behind Hazel, Ingaela Leask (HISC) third and fourth Savannah Kavanagh
(Warsash SC), all producing an excellent race series with only one point
separating the top three places.
Every race over the weekend was won by a different sailor. Freddie Wilder
and Ingaela Leask taking the first two races on Saturday and Alexander
Webley (HISC), Edith Charles (Parkstone SC) and Hazel Butterfield (Emsworth
SC) on Sunday.