It’s been several years since the Optimist dinghy fleet has participated in team racing, and this year the association undertook to re-introduce the format into the fleet.
With the National Championships happening later in the week in Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough, it was seen as the perfect venue to dust off the Team Racing Open Championship but also to introduce a new IODAI National Team Racing trophy.
In Optimists, the Team Racing format is four v four boats, making for interesting winning combinations. Eight Teams took to the water in the beautiful surrounding of Ballyholme Bay. Thomas Chaix ran 24 races which ultimately saw a Spanish Team from CN Javea take the Open Championship, closely followed by RCYC with Rory White, Andrew O’Neil, Dougie Venner and Fionn Hayes, the first Irish Team.
Interestingly, there was a bit of Irish flare in the Spanish teams as former two-time Oppie National Champion David Crosbie had returned with his daughter sailing as part of the team.
The event was very much a collaborative day, with coaches, parents and jury rowing together to make a very successful day possible.
Optimist Fleet Team Racing Final Results
- CN Javea
- RCYC 1
- RStG 1
- NYC Senior
- RCYC 2
- NYC Junior
- RStG 2
- IODAI 1
