2023 Optimist Spring Championships at Rutland Sailing Club

 The Optimist class had a fantastic weekend to kick off the 2023 IOCA UK series, with Rutland SC giving the class a warm welcome, both on and off the water. We had a bumper turnout of 164 sailors, including a deputation of visitors from the Irish Optimist fleet, which was fantastic to see this early in the season.

Main Fleet kicked off proceedings for their 127 sailors with two races on the Saturday, led by our fantastic race officer Charlie Stowe and his experienced race team. Held in very light and shifty conditions, it was a day of snakes and ladders on the water, especially for the second flight of the second race who crawled over the line on their hands and knees in the last whisper of the day's breeze immediately prior to Charlie and team calling it a day when the wind totally disappeared.

Sunday dawned with fresher conditions, which built over the course of the day to a reasonable breeze by the end of the day. The fleet got in 4 races, which were won by a range of sailors across both flights and there were some great performances by some of our younger sailors. A special mention goes to Tom Keegan (Parkstone YC) who despite being one of our youngest sailors, he led one race for most of the way round, getting a 2nd at the end (and our Endeavour Award for the weekend). Consistency was the key though, and Dylan Creighton (Cardiff Bay YC) sealed his victory for the weekend, with an impressive 3 wins in the last three races on Sunday.

In Main Fleet, sailors were also competing for several international events, including the Junior Irish Team, for sailors 12 and under to represent GBR at the Irish Nationals at Ballyholme YC this summer, which will be chosen from the Springs Results, 4 lucky sailors for a team racing event in Venice and Lila Edwards has been selected as the sailor who will represent GBR at the Country Cup. The others will be confirmed soon on the IOCA UK website!

Also awarded at the Spring Championships were the hard fought Gill Ambassador scholarships, awarded by class sponsor Gill, which saw 4 lucky sailors awarded a set of Gill kit for the season! Well done to the lucky winners: Seb Bailey, Olivia Coady, Eleanor Ayton and Charlie Holland. We look forward to seeing you in all your finery on the racecourse!