2019 Volvo Gill Optimist End of Season Championships

10/14/2019

Santi won the End of Seasons (with 3 wins and a 2nd), which means he won all ranking events this year, which places him 1st in the RYA IOCA National Rankings for 2019 (rolling until October 2020).



The event was held in the WPNSA, Weymouth. The weather was horrendous, with consistent rain and poor visibility. On Saturday, the winds gave a bit of a break and three races were able to run. The wind picked up significantly overnight and there were doubts the event will continue on Sunday. However, a window was found by PRO and the fleet went afloat. Still with winds between 18-20 and gusts of 30, the sailors managed to complete one race. Despite serious nerves from all small sailors and doubts from many in if the current leader would be able to keep the position given the heavy weather and big waves, Santi “Hiked his socks off until his legs burnt” (as per his own words) and brought the prize home.

 

Emma Breese was top Junior girl and 2nd girl overall.


An impressive effort by Dirk Rogers who ventured main fleet and even completed the race on Sunday, with horrendous weather, waves, rain, heavy winds and gusting over 30 knots. He finished 59th out of 75 in that race and top 100 in the event, which is an achievement!


Congratulations also to Leo Gosling, who placed 2nd in the Regatta Fleet.