Optimist Open Meeting - 8 January 2011
The traditional curtain raiser to the Optimist year was held on 8th January with 50 entrants in a single fleet taking part in the Papercourt Optimist Open sponsored by Guildford Marine. The weather gods were kind allowing the lake to thaw after 6 weeks of deep freeze and providing a moderate westerly breeze giving Race Officer Nigel Bird the opportunity to use the full extent of the lake for 3 two lap races.
The fleet got away cleanly for Race 1 with a trio (of the 30 odd) visitors Max Clapp, Syd McClean and Jenny Smallwood rounding the first windward mark in 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively ahead of local, Murray Hampshire. By the end of lap 2, local knowledge began to pay with Murray Hampshire pulling through to 2nd behind Max Clapp of Royal Southern at the end of the first lap before taking the lead on the 2nd and final lap to win race 1. Jenny Smallwood of Wraysbury overtook Syd McClean on lap 2 to complete the top three for Race 1 behind Murray Hampshire and Max Clapp. The gusts proved too much for some with a handful of capsizes giving some sailors a rather unwelcome and cold swim.
The fleet behaved itself again for the start of Race 2 with Papercourt sailors Murray Hampshire and Esther Fenton-Jones, who was recovering well from being over the line in Race 1, rounding the first windward mark for a home 1,2 and with a big lead over the rest of the fleet, headed by Syd McClean in 3rd. The windward mark provided some typical Papercourt windshifts on lap 2 allowing Murray Hampshire to increase his lead over Esther Fenton-Jones to 20 boat lengths. Fraser Woodley of Burghfield was clearly adjusting to the conditions well after a 5th in race 1 and by the 2nd windward mark of Race 2 had moved to 3rd . He kept the pressure on the leading 2 downwind, managing to overtake both to take line honours to leave Murray Hampshire 2nd and Esther Fenton-Jones 3rd.
Papercourt produced its usual high standard of cuisine at lunchtime giving a well earned feast to the sailors prior to taking to the water in the afternoon, at which point the wind began to lighten considerably. The trickier conditions resulted in a general recall in Race 3 with the PRO immediately bringing out the black flag. This proved effective with the fleet reverting to its earlier good behaviour and only Papercourt sailor Conor Whelan being sent home for an early shower. Race 3 followed a similar pattern with Murray Hampshire and Esther Fenton-Jones finishing 1st and 2nd respectively followed by Joe and Fraser Woodley in 3rd and 4th.
With two 1sts, Murray Hampshire finished as overall winner, followed by Fraser Woodley of Burghfield whose 4th in Race 3 was decisive, beating Esther Fenton-Jones into 3rd by a single point.
Prizes were generously provided throughout the fleet by sponsor Guildford Marine. Notable performances by Papercourt sailors were Emma Handley (14th), Alice Smith (18th) and Dominic Hall (19th)with 8 year old Partick Whelan being the youngest helm and winning the endeavour award. Several new PSC Winter squaddies (Chris James, Charles Handley, Charlie Sumeray, Jonathan Bell, Samantha Sebo and Amelia Bryant also braved the main fleet for the first time and deserve huge credit for their performances against some of the best Oppy sailors in the country.
Report by Jason Hardman
More Photos (by Jeremy Sumeray)
