Optimist Open Meeting - 4 September 2010
107 optimist sailors visited Papercourt on Saturday 4th September for the Summer Optimist Opening meeting. Nigel Bird and his race team somehow managed complete 3 races in a testing South Easterly – no mean feat! Meanwhile the catering team offered up a fantastic BBQ and afternoon tea for all sailors and spectators. Visitors to Papercourt can always rely on being well looked after.
While conditions were undoubtedly challenging the fact that the top 3 places in the Main fleet were filled by sailors at the head of the National rankings was telling. The first race was won by Scott Wallis followed by Josh Voller with Ryan Orr 3rd and Harry Bone-Knell from the UAE and most travelled visitor 4th. The second race saw a change of faces at the front with home sailor Esther Fenton-Jones winning from the consistent Voller with Rowan Edwards 3rd and Milo Gill-Taylor 4th. It was all to play for in the final race. Fraser Woodley led the fleet home after his black flag in race 1 with 5 others to secure third overall on a points tie with Rowan Edwards who was fourth overall and Milo Gill Taylor one point back in 5th. The overall winner of the Main fleet was Scott Wallis with a third from the last race added to a first to win on a tie break from the consistent Voller who discarded one of his three seconds. Top Papercourt sailor and first girl was Esther Fenton-Jones in 8th overall.
Competition in the Regatta Fleet was equally keen though consistency somewhat harder to come by. The first race was won by Deborah Hughes, followed by Papercourt sailors Iain Bird, Hannah Birchall and Nicholas Walters. The second race was won by James Hammett of Papercourt followed by Alexander Dorricot, George Ford and Zoe James. At this point it was hard to see who would win overall as the main contenders had a high score in one of the races. The final race was won by Papercourts Alice Handley to secure fourth overall with Iain Bird second and coupled with a 2nd in the first race the overall prize. George Fords 3rd in the last race was not enough to slip past the consistent Alexander Dorricot who was second overall ahead of George.
Papercourt looks forward to inviting visitors to the winter open in early January when we hope that a stiff South Westerly can be delivered.
Overall Results
Main Fleet
1st Scott Wallis - 4 points
2nd Josh Voller - 4 points
3rd Fraser Woodley - 8 points
4th Rowan Edwards - 8 points
5th Milo Gill-Taylor - 9 points
Regatta Fleet
1st Iain Bird - 4 points
2nd Alexander Dorricott - 6 points
3rd George Ford - 6 points
4th Alice Handley - 7 points
5th Jonny Thompson - 11 points
