Light fickle winds on the first day of the Volvo Gill Optimist Open and British National Championships in Pwhelli prevented top Irish top challenger Peter McCann from Royal Cork making an early breakthrough but other Irish sailors have prevailed in the senior fleet incuding Kinsale's Cliodhna Ni Shuilleabhain in joint third overall and the National Yacht Club's Sean Donnelly in ninth. Results to date here.
Some of the nation's finest young sailors struggled in light fickle winds. The day was overcast and the light conditions brought tricky shifts. The southerly wind struggled to get over 4 ½ knots but the frustrated Senior and Junior fleet sailors managed one race each in the light breeze.
After one race New Zealand's Markus Somerville (15, Wakatere BC) currently sits at the top of the Senior fleet followed by British sailor and 2010 Junior National Champion, Freddie Grogono. In the Junior fleet the USA dominate two of the top three positions with JC Hermus (11, Bellport Bay YC) in first, Welsh sailor Alexander Watson (9, Llyn Brenig) in second place and Ryan Hennessey (12, Bellport Bay YC) in third. Matilda Nicholls (10, Royal Bermuda YC) sits top of the Regatta racing fleet.
"We were fortunate that when the breeze did fill in it coincided with slack water. It was shifty out there but no more than we predicted and there was consistent pressure. The wind faded towards the end of Senior fleet races so we made the decision to shorten the course. We are pleased to achieve one race for both the Senior and Junior fleets in such light wind. Pwhelli is a great venue to hold the National Championships without as much tidal influence as other venues in the UK." Peter Saxton, Principle Race Officer Optimist National Main fleet
2011 Volvo Gill Optimist Spring Champion, Max Clapp (14, Royal Southern YC) is looking forward to getting back out on the water tomorrow morning "It was quite light and shifty out there but I sail best in light winds. I've raced here [in Pwllheli] before and I'm used to it being windy so it's a change it's so light. I like the venue here, it's great to launch from the beach and compared to Weymouth and Portland it's more open to the sea. I really like sailing in the class because of the numbers and it's nice to meet new friends. My aim for the week - I'd really like to be top Brit in my fleet."
More than 450 British and international sailors from as far afield as New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa have descended on Pwllheli for the 50th Optimist Open and National Championships, which run until Friday 5th August.
Racing is scheduled to resume tomorrow (Tuesday 2nd August) at 11.00 am. The event will see a maximum of 12 races for the Senior and Junior fleets.
