Record Attendance at Optimist Open
- by Mark Green
A record number of optimists attended the
Chichester Yacht Club open, almost 80
competitors packed the car park with trailers
and boats. With so many competitors, of wide
ranging ability, the Optimist open runs two
fleets, the regatta fleet for the less
experienced and a main fleet for the more
advanced.
When the results were tallied the Main Fleet
event was won by Henry Keegan of Parkstone
SC who managed to come first in two of the
races. He was followed by Sam Watson from
Emsworth SC and Noah Evans, Emma Breese
and Freddie Fitzsimmons all from Royal
Lymington.
As they arrived, the day offered no wind and
fog so thick that it hid the marina pontoon from
view, only 30 metres away.
The Regatta fleet was won by Zac Shepherd
from Bosham SC, followed by Max Slatter
The competitors and race officials waited
from CYC and William Webster from
patiently for the fog to clear. Eventually the
Parkstone.
sun burned off the fog to reveal a clear blue
sky and the breeze filled in allowing the racing The Race Officer was reported as saying: "I
to start.
just couldn’t help noticing the number of
sailors who called thank you as they finished,
Even with the delay, the Main fleet managed
and the banter that was going on between the
three races and the regatta fleet two before
sailors. I got a real sense of a bunch of kids
the tide drained the water from the lake.
enjoying the sailing and being with friends".
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