Last weekend was all about our Junior Sailors. It was the Junior Regional Championships around the UK and 4 of our juniors competed. Hugh and Bertie were at the Eastern Championships at Grafham Water SC, while Sebastian and Fraser were at the Midlands Championship at Carsington SC.
East championships
Hugh 2nd overall – Regatta Fleet
Bertie – on-boarding fleet
Midlands championship
Sebastian 2nd overall – main fleet
Fraser 8th overall – main fleet, spot prize for the youngest sailor (by far!)
Report by Hugh.
Never had I been to a junior sailing competition.
Never had I raced on optimist’s against other optimist’s.
Never have I had so much fun.
Was it because I was sailing against like-minded children or was it because I’ve never really sailed the racing optimist before?
It was that we camped, we cook food on a little gas stove, waking up and hearing ducks, getting a briefing by professional national Swiss optimist coach.
On the second day the last race before lunch I had the best race in my life. I had a really bad start and I was 15 seconds late over the line and the wind was picking up.
As we tacked up wind I was still near the back. When we got round the first Mark I started picking up speed and I started overtaking other optimists as I went round the 2nd Mark. On the downwind stretch I was into fourth place and catching up fast. I was so close to the opi in front I could have touched it.
After a relaxing downwind break I pulled in my sail and put down my dagger board slowly overtaking the boat in third place. The last Mark was coming up and again I was so close to touch him.
I rounded the final Mark and we were neck and neck again I slowly sped up and overtook him, I just crossed the line two boat lengths front . I had come second!!