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A<strong>float</strong> Autumn/Winter 2009<br />
26<br />
G<br />
Oppy Oppy Oppy<br />
Mark Harrington<br />
Optimist Report<br />
Summer 2009<br />
Mark Harrington<br />
We’ve had a busy time at Oppy <strong>Club</strong><br />
in the last few months with healthy<br />
fleet numbers sailing on Saturdays,<br />
Wednesday evenings and taking part in<br />
open meetings.<br />
The Oppy Parent Team is in place and<br />
as part of that team I have taken on the<br />
role of Flotilla Leader whilst retaining<br />
responsibility for the beginners and<br />
website updates. The other members<br />
of the team are John Hamilton (Racing<br />
Group and Open Meetings), Richard<br />
Haw (Oppy Bosun, Intermediate<br />
Group) and Richard Baker<br />
(Intermediate Group, Parent Rota<br />
and Oppy Members). Our aim is “To<br />
ensure that the children enjoy sailing<br />
their Optimists, by providing them<br />
with a full range of opportunities to<br />
develop their skills”. We all have a good<br />
deal of enthusiasm and experience<br />
and are really looking forward to<br />
developing the <strong>Weir</strong> <strong>Wood</strong> Optimists.<br />
What’s been happening on<br />
the water?<br />
Great Fun at Oppy Camp<br />
Now you have sorted out the tents,<br />
sailing gear and various odd socks,<br />
time to reflect on this year’s camp.<br />
Despite the changeable and at times<br />
challenging conditions, all the children<br />
and adults had a great time on and off<br />
the water. The closely run watch points<br />
prize, which runs during the whole<br />
week was won by Blue Watch with<br />
an excellent all-round performance.<br />
Georgia Baker won the Pendry Trophy<br />
for most improved sailor during the<br />
week and well done to Sophie Mamalis<br />
for winning the Avalanche Cup for<br />
the greatest number of smiles from<br />
the highest number of capsizes! A<br />
huge thanks to Pete Clifton and Chris<br />
Hopkins for their invaluable input, plus<br />
the whole team for making the week<br />
such a great success, we are all looking<br />
forward to next year.<br />
The Summer Series was won<br />
convincingly by Verity Hopkins –<br />
well done. It was a close run thing<br />
for second place with Sören Selter,<br />
Fiona Harrington, Jacob Hamilton and<br />
Emma Baker all able to take second<br />
place overall in the final race of the<br />
series. The race took place in perfect<br />
conditions at the end of Day 1 of Oppy<br />
Camp. 15 boats on a short start line<br />
made it a challenge for the fleet. Fiona<br />
and Sören made good starts with Jacob<br />
hard on their heels. By the windward<br />
mark Jacob was out in front with<br />
Fiona, Katie <strong>Wood</strong> and Sören close<br />
behind. Emma got back amongst the<br />
places on the downwind legs. However<br />
Jacob pulled it out of the bag on the<br />
second beat by reading the shifts<br />
well and establishing a commanding<br />
lead at the windward mark, which<br />
he maintained until the finish, giving<br />
him second overall in the series. Fiona<br />
sailed well to finish second, resulting<br />
in third in the series, holding off Katie<br />
in third and Emma fourth. For overall<br />
results see the results page on<br />
the website.<br />
Chipstead Open/South<br />
East Championships<br />
Ten WWSC boats took to the water<br />
in great conditions on Saturday 18<br />
July and although the lack of big<br />
fleet experience told for some of<br />
our sailors, there were some good<br />
individual performances throughout<br />
the day. Sören Selter getting a great<br />
start in Race 1, resulting in a 6th place<br />
and ending up 12th of 31 entries in<br />
the main fleet. Verity Hopkins sailed<br />
consistently well, ending up in the top<br />
10 and with 3rd place in the South<br />
East Area Championships. Emma<br />
Baker showed real determination after<br />
a difficult morning, earning her the<br />
Endeavour Award. In the Regatta Fleet<br />
Millie Hopkins sailed really well all day<br />
and was never far behind the top 2.<br />
Millie gained a 3rd place overall in the<br />
Regatta Fleet a brilliant performance<br />
and one to watch for the future.<br />
OK so what’s on for the<br />
rest of the season?<br />
On 12 September we have our<br />
Training Day being run by Ben<br />
Ainsworth RYA Optimist Coach. We<br />
will have 2 groups including intensive<br />
race training and an intermediate level.<br />
This is taking place a week before the<br />
WWSC Optimist Open and will help<br />
the children to get up to speed so they<br />
can enjoy the racing the following<br />
week with confidence.<br />
Talking of the Open Meeting, it takes<br />
place on Saturday 19 September and<br />
at the time of writing we had over 50<br />
boats entered from most of the clubs<br />
in the South East region, including a<br />
great turnout from the locals. This is<br />
also the RYA South East Zone Squad<br />
selection event so the competition is<br />
going to be hot. I’ve already checked<br />
out the long-term forecast and the Met<br />
Office assure me that it will be 15 knts,<br />
Westerly, Sunny and 23 degrees! This<br />
event requires a great deal of support<br />
from the whole club and a big thank<br />
you to everyone who has volunteered<br />
to be involved both on and off<br />
the water!<br />
That’s not all for September! We are<br />
looking to increasing the number<br />
of local open meetings we attend,
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