Optimist UK Team Racing Championship 2026 at Rutland Sailing Club
by Jane Hudson 9 Jun 10:35 PDT
6-7 June 2026
Optimist Team Racing Championship at Rutland © Oct_films / J Ward
Team 'Where's Lazlo?' won the Ramus Trophy after claiming victory at the IOCA (UK) Team Racing Championships at Rutland Sailing Club on 6th and 7th June 2026.
Twenty-four young sailors arrived at the club on Saturday and were greeted by intermittent rain but warm temperatures and about 15 knots, as the race committee, expertly lead by Brenda Davies, set a starboard S course and ran a series of round robins for the six teams just off the club.
A total of 36 races were completed on Saturday with team 'Where's Lazlo?', consisting of sailors selected to represent GBR at the Optimist World Championships, demonstrating their class by ending the day the top of the table with ten wins, dropping only one race to rank outsiders 'Random Pirates' after captain Jonny Rogers uncharacteristically filled up with water and Lizzie Hudson managed to slow Jacques Kent enough to allow the Pirates to snatch, just, the win.
They were followed by 'A2RT', a team from the east coast, and 'Warsash Warriors'.
Chief Umpire Andy McKee kindly gave an informative de-brief following racing, before competitors and parents enjoyed a meal at the club.
Sunday dawned windier, gusting over 25 knots at times, but mercifully dry, as the teams took to the water to complete the third and fourth round robins. 60 races were completed in total. The top four teams and therefore semi-finalists were 'Where's Lazlo?' with 19 wins, team 'A2RT' second with 13 wins, 'Warsash Warriors' with 11 wins and 'SeaTees' with 10 wins.
In the semis, both 'Where's Lazlo?' and 'A2RT' dispatched their opponents quickly, winning 2-0.
In the petit final 'SeaTees' beat 'Warsash Warriors' overall but had to recover from losing the first race to win the next two to clinch 3rd place overall.
'Where's Lazlo?' met 'A2RT' in the final. In race 1 'A2RT' had a winning combination at the bottom mark, Jonny Rogers and Patrick Di Salle worked hard up the final beat to convert and almost managed it, but the team from the east squeaked the win at the line. However 'Where's Lazlo?' found their winning form to take both the second and third race.
At the prize-giving, event organiser Stuart Hudson awarded a number of spot prizes:
- The Mr Dizzy prize to Max Ellis-Asquith from 'Warsash Warriors'
- The Never Give Up in the Face of Adversity prize to Theo Fox from 'SeaTees' for completing a race with no tiller or tiller extension, steering with both hands on the rudder blade
- The Resilience prize Cara Lynch from 'Warsash Warriors' for sailing on through the knock out stages with strapping across painful fingers on both hands.
- The Enthusiasm prize to Evie Rogerson from 'Small and Dangerous' for her perpetual smile on the water.
After 70 races, 'Where's Lazlo?' was crowned UK National Team Racing Champions with a fantastic display of superior team racing and impressive boat speed. We wish them the best of luck at the Worlds in Tangiers later this month.
Many thanks to the Rutland team who capably and efficiently ran the races and supplied the amazing umpire team led by Andy McKee. Thanks also to the team of IOCA volunteers who made the event happen. Next year we are back to Oxford SC on 7th/8th - save the date!
Overall finish positions:
1st Where's Lazlo? - Jonny Rogers (captain), Charlie Holland, Patrick di Salle, Jacques Kent
2nd A2RT - Arthur Rogers (captain), Amelie Renard, Thomas Child, Rory Luddington
3rd SeaTees - Sean di Salle (captain), Sebastian Vials, Theodore Fox, Chloe Davis
4th Warsash Warriors - Jack Ward (captain) Cara Lynch, Sam Wealthy, Max Ellis Asquith
5th Small and Dangerous - Archie Dowling (captain) Charlotte Davis, Finn Simmons, Evie Rogerson
6th Random Pirates - Lizzie Hudson (captain), Sam Bourke, Toby Jones, Xenia Hudson