Clear winners

A report from the final day at the Volvo Musto Optimist Sailing National Championships in Pwllheli

Two races were completed on the final day of the Volvo Musto Optimist Sailing National Championships that have been taking place at Pwllheli Sailing Club this week.

In the Junior fleet, James Grant, 12, from Restronguet Sailing Club who secured his National Junior title yesterday after a great week racing, was out on the race course again today, where he finished off his week with a fifth and a first. While younger brother David, 11, won race eleven and was 11th in race 12, therefore maintained his lead over Aaron Smith, by four points and is second overall with 33 points. Aaron,13 from Papercourt SC who finished the Championship with 37 points, had a really good regatta, but was black flagged in race 8, therefore had to use one his discards for that result.
Due to their great results, the Grant brothers will be taking home the Ramshaw Brothers Trophy.

First girl in the Senior fleet was Shona Ross, 12, from Spey Valley Sailing Club who finished the Championship in 25th place overall with 298 points.

While in the Senior fleet, Phil Sparks, 12 Royal Lymington scored a second and ninth today therefore finishing the week with 31pts and secure his Senior National Championship title, Phil had a 48 point margin between himself and second place and also first girl overall Lucy de Boltz, 13, from Corinthian Otters who fought back her way up the leader board with two great results today, finishing her Championship with 79 points. In third place with 89 points, after a great Regatta on unknown waters is Ian Hollenbach from Team USA, who has had some, really impressive results this week.

This year the Championship has been hosted by Pwllheli Sailing Club in North Wales, one of four sailing venue’s in the UK that can host major sailing events. The Club was only build in 1997 on reclaimed land from the harbour, with National Lottery and local council funding. The club has also hosted the 420, RS and Topper Nationals and later this month will also host the Regatta of Wales.

“Its been an excellent week both on and off the water, we have been really lucky with the weather, the kids have been great and have obviously really enjoyed the racing, Pwllheli Sailing Club are looking forward to hosting the National Championships again next year,” said John Griffiths, Sailing Club Administrator.

This year, there have been a large numbers of overseas sailors. Team USA, sent over five sailors with their coach Kenneth Andreasen, for the Championships, hiring boats from P & B. The sailors, who are from the Upper Midwest region of the States have come over the Volvo Musto Optimist National Championships to gain more international sailing experience and they have had a great week on the water. In the Senior fleet, Ian Hollerbach, 12 from Bayview Sailing Club in Detroit has had some great results winning 3 out of the 12 races and therefore finishing 2nd overall and also winning the Severine Rees Trophy for the highest placed oversea’s competitor.

Hollerbach commented: “it has been a great week, the whole US team have been made to feel really welcome here and we are planning on coming back next year with a much bigger team! I have never sailing against British sailors or in Britain before, but the conditions are really similar to where I sail at home, and also being quite light meant that I have quite quick on the water”.

The National Championships is one of the three key Optimist sailing regattas, the other events being the Volvo Musto Inland Championships and the Volvo Musto End of Season Championships. After competing at all three Championships selectors will then select the National squad for 2006. The National Squad will then also get an invitation to the Volvo Musto Optimist World and European selections which take place in April/May next year.

Volvo Car UK and Musto have just announced that they will carry on Optimist Sponsorship for another two years.

Results

Senior Fleet
1. Phil Sparks, Royal Lymington (31pts)
2. Lucy De Boltz, Corinthian Otters (79pts)
3. Ian Hollebach, USA (89pts)
4. Hannah Diamond, Warsash (89pts)
5. Matthew Rainback, Poole (90pts)
6. Adrian Clay, Royal Lymington (110pts)
7. Charlie Makepeace, Bowmoor (111pts)
8. Alyson Rumball, IRL (123pts)
9. Jacob Brubert, Waveney & Oulton (134pts)
10. Morgan Kiss, USA (141pts)

Junior Fleet
1. James Grant, Restronguet (10pts)
2. David Grant, Restronguet (33pts)
3. Aaron Smith, Papercourt ( 37pts)
4. James Aplin, Royal St George (71pts)
5. John Fisher, Kinsale (94pts)
6. Mitchell Kiss, USA (110pts)
7. Calum Murdock, Bowmoor (116pts)
8. Ben Robinson, West Kirby (117pts)
9. Matthew Deacon-Smith, Warsash (122pts)
10. Christian Townrow, Restronguet (125pts)