Midland Area Optimist Championships at South Staffs Sailing Club

Midland Area Optimist Championships at South Staffs Sailing Club

by Jon Smith 20 Sep 01:21 PDT
18 September 2021


Midland Area Optimist Championships © Deborah Smith

Henr-Lloyd BLU MPU
Upffront 2020 Foredeck Club SW MPU


The third event of the Midlands Traveller Series for Optimists was held on Sat 18 September. The day started misty and windless but bacon baps and coffee were downed, and after a postponement racing got under way mid-morning.


Sailors were split into three fleets depending on experience level with the two most experienced fleets racing around a course covering most of the reservoir and an enthusiastic fun fleet tucked in close to the clubhouse excited to take part in their first race.


In the first race it was Theo Smith who picked his way through the patchy wind to take the win although Dilara Soyer made a great comeback from a premature start to claim second. With lunch already cooked, due to the postponement, the sailors headed ashore.


During lunch the wind picked up a little, although never consistent. The afternoon racing saw Tristan Shaw win his first race on the Midlands Traveller Series. The racing was incredibly tight; after three races the leaders were tied on points for overall winner of the championship, also tied on points for 1st junior, and only one point separated the leaders of the regatta fleet. The young sailors maintained their concentration brilliantly. Racing was still tight, with places changing frequently, in the last race of the day. It wasn’t until the final beat to the finish that places were settled.


Overall winner of the Midland Area Championship was Dilara Soyer (Draycote SC), runner up was Theo Smith (South Staffs and Draycote SCs), first junior was Jack Hodgkins (South Staffs SC) and the Endeavour Trophy was awarded to Tristan Shaw (Banbury SC) for winning his first race in the travellers series. The regatta fleet was won by William Shaw with Oscar Smith he runner up. Several sailors received awards to recognise their values and behaviours, and George Senior won the mini race series of the fun fleet.


Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Sailing_Club Fleet Prize Category R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts
1st 6506 Dilara Soyer Draycote Water SC Main   ‑2 1 2 1 4
2nd 6575 Theo Smith South Staffs SC & Draycote SC Main   1 2 ‑4 3 6
3rd 6365 Jack Hodgkins South Staffs SC Main Junior 3 ‑4 3 2 8
4th 6418 Tristan Shaw Banbury SC Main Junior 5 ‑6 1 4 10
5th 5391 William Shaw Banbury SC Regatta   6 3 ‑7 6 15
6th 6334 Isabella Barnes Draycote SC Main Junior 4 7 6 ‑8 17
7th 5483 Oscar Smith South Staffs SC & Draycote SC Regatta   ‑7 5 5 7 17
8th 6020 Mia Hateley South Staffs SC Regatta   ‑8 8 8 5 21
9th 6441 Pippa Timmins South Staffs SC Regatta   9 9 9 ‑10 27
10th 4885 Stanley Sawle Midland SC Regatta   ‑11 10 10 11 31
11th 2 Luca Johnson Blithfield SC Regatta   ‑12 11 12 9 32
12th 5403 Amy Farmer South Staffs SC Regatta   ‑14 12 11 12 35
13th 21 Oscar Johnson Blithfield SC Regatta   ‑13 13 13 13 39
14th 5092 Mabel Sawle Midland SC Regatta   10 (DNC) DNC DNC 40
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