Klaus followed by NSW sailor, Caitlin Tames
The 2011 Australian & Open Optimist Championships were held in Pittwater, Sydney, hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. There were 116 boats registered for the open fleet, including one Japanese, 4 New Zealanders, and 18 from Queensland, including Eva and I from Whitsunday SC. The others were from Southport, Brisbane, and Maroochydore.
There were 59 competitors entered in the Green (Junior) fleet, including Hamish Swain from WSC, and four other Queenslanders.
For the open fleet, the race committee had divided the competitors into four fleets, Blue, Pink, Yellow and White, two of which making a ‘flight’. Each race for the regatta had two flights so that there were not too many boats at each start. There were 12 races scheduled over 4 race days, which meant that each fleet would have sailed in the same start with each other fleet 4 times. In the event, only 9 races were able to be held, so that each fleet sailed only 3 times against each other.
In the Green fleet, all boats started on the same start line together. They also had 12 races scheduled, and were able to complete them all.
Our family flew into Sydney on Thursday 5th, picked up a car, and drove to the caravan park in Terrey Hills where we were to stay, about 15 minutes drive from the regatta venue. We had 3 days before the regatta actually started so Eva and I could do some training beforehand. We had intended to drive to Sydney, the three Whitsunday boats with us, but the road closures at Rockhampton prevented that. The next day we had to wait at the sailing club until our chartered boats arrived in the late afternoon, so go in no sailing.
On Saturday, we got down to the Yacht Club early so as we could rig our boats and go training. Tom Brewer (the NSW Coach) was organizing some short races out in the bay and was inviting everyone to join in, so that’s what we did.
On Sunday I went training with the West Australian team, and Eva with the Queenslanders, where we were just doing more racing. Gradually lots of other sailors joined in so it was really beneficial.
Monday was the day of the practice race, which started at 1400 for the open fleet competitors. The wind was ESE 10-15 knots and really shifty. Chris (Charlewood, from Perth) and I started at the pin and got a good shift so that we jumped out in front of the rest of the fleet. We were then fighting with a New Zealander, Tim Adair, for the lead. Coming up to the finish Chris and I were 3rd and 4th but then we pulled out, seeing as it is bad luck to finish the practice race. Eva finished 46th. The short regatta opening ceremony was held afterwards.
Tuesday was the first day of proper racing. The wind was going NE at about 5 knots and it was constantly shifting around. I went out an hour and a half beforehand so that I could get used to the conditions. I was in white fleet with Chris so that was good. The first race was alright because I had a good start but didn’t get in phase with the shifts straight away. I was about 12th around the top mark but caught heaps of boats on the downwind to finish 8th.
The second race was pretty much the same except for the good start. I did get a massive left shift and gust on the last upwind which lifted me all the way to the finish though, so I caught up heaps of boats again to finish with another 8th.
The wind stayed in for the next race. I powered off the pin end and then tacked off in front of the fleet. I played the shifts on the right to win the race by heaps, but the wind died out again for the fourth and last race and I came in 7th.
After that first day I was coming 5th overall, which was alright.
Wednesday started off really well because when we got down to the Yacht Club we could see that there was already a lot of wind. We had a QLD team briefing at 1000 and then we got a tow out to the racecourse. The wind was around 15 knots already and building steadily. Our first race got off quickly and I had a really good start. There was a New Zealander about 100 metres in front at the wing mark and I was 2nd. On the last upwind I caught him to finish 1st.
On the second race, Chris and I led at the start and then got a left shift to jump ahead of everyone else by heaps. We both led for the entire race and again I finished 1st. The last race of that day was the windiest. It was a steady 25 knots with gusts of around 30. Again, I led off the start line and for the rest of the race.
Now I was coming 3rd overall, which was way better.
Thursday was scheduled for teams racing, so there was no fleet racing, and Friday was a scheduled lay day.
On Saturday, after two effective lay days, the forecast was for the wind to drop out more. We all headed out to the course not expecting much. The breeze was about 5 knots from the SW. I had a really good start on that race but lost a little from not playing the shifts so well. I was around 7th around the top mark and held that place nearly up to the finish, by which time I had gained two boats to finish 5th.
That was the only race we did that day, and I was now 4th overall, with only 6 points separating the first 5 boats.
On the last day, Sunday, I was really psyched to do well and catch up some places. However, we only got in one race in very light and fluky conditions, in which I finished 6th. Because some of the other leading boats also fared badly, my placing was enough to boost me back up to 3rd overall in the regatta.
The regatta results were certainly interesting and made for a very exciting regatta: at the end of day 2, 12 points separated the top 5 boats. This had narrowed to 6 at the end of day 3, and was back to 14 after the last race. The regatta winner had 2 first placings out of the 9 races completed, whilst the next two boats had 4 firsts each.
Being in the top 5 placings means that I have been included in the 2011 Australian Optimist Sailing Team to contest the 2011 World Championships to be held in Napier, NZ, in December. We will be sailing against the top 5 sailors from many other countries in the World. The team will also compete in the NZ Nationals which will be held in Whakatere, Auckland, in April this year. This means that I will be sailing an Optimist for another year. In the meantime, Ollie Annear and I will start sailing a 420 (two person) dinghy, with hopes to qualify for the 420 Worlds in due course.
Eva finished in 46th. place, including an 8th and a 13th., and in the Green fleet, Hamish Swain finished a very creditable 4th, which included two 3rd placings and a 5th.
Footnote:
Eva sailed in the Open fleet for the first time and Hamish was at his first National Regatta. Of course, the sailing results are not the only criteria for a good regatta. All the WSC sailors made a lot of friends, and are looking forward to their next sailing event: Klaus will go to NZ at Easter, with the rest of the Australian team, and all plan to contest the Queensland State Championships to be held at Mooloolaba in June, and the Queensland Mid-Winter Championships at RQYS in July, hopefully with at least two more sailors from WSC. Here they will meet up with many of the inter-state friends they have made at this regatta.