Canadian Optimist Nationals
August 28, 2008 by Bermuda Sailing Association | 0 comments
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club sent a team of 12 youth sailors to compete in the Canadian National Championships hosted by the Lunenburg Yacht Club in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia under the guidance of RBYC Racing Coach Paul Doughty. The Bermuda sailors sailed fantastically with top-notch finishes against some of the world’s best Optimist sailors. At the end of the regatta Dimitri Stevens was an impressive 2nd place overall behind the current South American Champion. Rahiem Steede climbed steadly throughout the regatta to12th place overall followed by Terreko Wilson in 15th. Next came Sam Stan in 23rd (4th in Blue fleet age group), Michael Barit 38th, Ellie Wollmann 52nd, and Ceci Wollmann 68th and (2nd in White fleet age group). In the 30 boat Green Fleet eight year old Mikey Wollmann placed 2nd, Brandon Simmons 6th, Caleb Simmons 18th and Chase Cooper 26th. Overall it was a fantastic showing, but the Bermudians will not only be remembered for their performance on the water, but in their conduct off the water as the entire team was awarded with the Canadian Optimist Dinghy Sportsmanship Award for their friendliness, manners, spirit, and determination.
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club sent a team of 12 youth sailors to compete in the Canadian National Championships hosted by the Lunenburg Yacht Club in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia under the guidance of RBYC Racing Coach Paul
Doughty. Chase Cooper, Brandon Simmons, Caleb Simmons and Mikey Wollmann competed in Green Fleet (novice racers) in the protected waters off the LYC dock with 24 other sailors. Michael Barit, Mackenzie Cooper, Sam Stan,
Rahiem Steede, Dimitri Stevens, Ceci Wolmann, Ellie Wollmann, Terreko Wilson competed in the Championship fleet sailed on Mahone Bay off Herman’s Island which was 94 sailors strong. The Championship Fleet consisted of the top Canadian sailors and other world ranked ‘Opti’ veterans such as Malcolm Lamphere and Clay Danly from the USA, Juan Carlos “Juanky” Perdomo from Puerto Rico and Ian Barrows, current South American Champion from the US Virgin Islands.
The first 2 days of racing where sailed in “survival conditions” with 18 – 24 knots of breeze from the north west in cool but sunny temperatures. The beginning of day 2 saw Bermuda’s first casualty when Mackenzie Cooper suffered a chipped bone in his foot prior to launching and was out of the competition while sitting in 7th place
overall. The lighter sailors suffered in the breezy and cool conditions but were tougher than many of their Canadian counterparts. Dimitri Stevens was consistent throughout and was the top Bermudian each day regardless of the weather conditions. Day 3 and 4 brought moderate winds and warmer temperatures and the Bermudians made the most of it, finding the conditions similar to our own Great Sound. These familiar conditions saw all the Bermudians move up the leaderboard.
At the end of the regatta Dimitri Stevens was an impressive 2nd place overall behind the Champion “Juanky” Perdomo of Puerto Rico. Top Canadian was Julien Fougere from the Chester Yacht Club who finished in 4th place. Rahiem Steede climbed steadly throughout the regatta to12th place overall followed by Terreko Wilson in 15th. Next came Sam Stan in 23rd (4th in Blue fleet age group), Michael Barit 38th, Ellie Wollmann 52nd, and Ceci Wollmann 68th and (2nd in White fleet age group). In the 30 boat Green Fleet eight year old Mikey Wollmann placed 2nd, Brandon Simmons 6th, Caleb Simmons 18th and Chase Cooper 26th. Overall it was a fantastic showing by the whole team.
The surprise of the regatta occurred during the prize-giving when the entire team was presented with the annual Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association Sportsmanship Award, a large bronze sculpture normally presented to an individual meeting the criteria. The Bermudians impressed the organizers and their fellow sailors with their friendliness, manners, sailing ability, determination and overall great sportsmanship. By the end of the regatta everyone at the event had a “Feel the Love” rubber bracelet courtesy of the Bda Dept of Tourism. Our presence was known both on and off the water. The Lunenburg Yacht Club executed a flawless event assisted by dozens of volunteers who worked tirelessly to make sure nothing was left to chance (except the weather). They entertained the sailors and parents off the water with numerous activities and dinners including an evening at the Lunenburg Fisheries Museum and Aquarium.
