Nearly 200 Optimist sailors took to Rutland Water last weekend for the final IOCA UK ranking event of 2016, the Volvo Gill Optimist End of Season Championship at Rutland Sailing Club.
Members of the British Sailing Team, having just returned from Rio, were on hand to inspire the youth sailors. Team Volvo's Alain Sign and Alexandra Rickham shared their grassroots to glory journeys in a bid to inspire the next generation of sailors.
For many of the young competitors, this event signified an important moment in their sailing careers with the results forming part of the selection process for the IOCA UK Squads. Training in the squads develops their skills and knowledge to enable them to excel in Optimist sailing and progress successfully towards youth and Olympic class sailing.
49er sailor Alain Sign joined the sailors on the water on Saturday to offer some hints and tips. After racing, the Optimist sailors had the opportunity to hear about Alain's sailing journey from youth to Olympic class sailing. Speaking after the event Alain said: "For many here, the dream became a possible reality when they heard how sailing greats such as Team Volvo's Hannah Mills, double Olympic medallist, had once sat exactly where they were. In total, 10 of the 15 sailors who represented Great Britain at this year's Olympics, started out their sailing careers in the Optimist Class."
After a wet start on day one, the sun shone down on the regatta and transition fleets as they hit the water for day two of racing on Sunday. With a steady northeasterly breeze blowing across the Rutland reservoir, the sailors completed three closely fought races. Double Paralympic medallist, Alexandra Rickham, attended the prize giving ceremony and said: "It has been a fantastic weekend of sailing and I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting with the next generation of sailors. I hope Alain and I have inspired them and helped to realise that with hard-work and support you can achieve anything."
