Lymington Optimist Flotilla

If you live in the Lymington area and want to race Optimist Dinghies come and join our Flotilla. Operating under the umbrella of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club and associated to IOCA (International Optimist Class Association), the Flotilla organises regular training and coaching sessions throughout the year for children, ages between 8 and fifteen, who can already sail an Optimist and want to learn to race or improve existing racing skills. Our sailing sessions are usually wet, often cold but always fun!

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Competing for a place in the National Squad at the 2006 Selections

Latest News (last updated 30/06/08)

End of Seasons on-Line Entry Opens

Don't forget to enter for the EOS online, opens 1st July 2008

Over 200 competitors at Royal Lymington over three weekends in early June

The Lymington PolyOppy Open on Friday 1 June was the brainchild of RYA Community Award Winner and Royal Lymington Yacht Club member Geoff Stock. Race Officer for the day Lymington sailor Sam Muskett (16) and his team of teenage coaches were mentored through the day by Geoff and a number of parents including Ros Urwin, who for the past three years has competently managed all the Optimist sailing at Lymington on behalf of RLymYC. A total of 23 sailors many of them members of RLymYC Wednesday Junior Sailing, raced in club oppies and were coached in small groups off and on the water just inside the starting platform on the edge of the Solent. With perfect light winds and mild temperatures, all the sailors enjoyed a really fun day as a result of which a number of recruits to the next level of racing are now going out to buy their own boats!

The Harken Royal Lymington YC Optimist Regatta on Saturday 7 June

Each group of 7 sailors was allocated an accompanying RIB with one qualified coach, assisted by a current or “recently moved on” Optimist racer and an adult. The 64 young Optimist sailors, who had travelled from various UK locations, had a fantastic opportunity to practice in sunny weather and a fresh breeze on tidal waters, in preparation for the Optimist National Championships in August.

Safety and support teams were kept busy all day as an increasing number of competitors retired to the comfort of the Mothership. The standard of racing was impressive from those who continued and had the satisfaction of reaching their final finish line right off the sea wall to the accompaniment of loud cheers from their supporters on the bank.

At the end of a long day with 5 races including one discard, Ross Mackley from local club Spinnaker won the event overall with three first places counting and a total of just 8 points. Milo Gill Taylor also from Spinnaker, just 8 years old and impressively focussed, counting a first and two seconds, was second overall on 9 points and Edward Curran from Burghfield third on 21 points. Thanks must go to the Harken UK and IBI Sailing for their support.

The Harken Royal Lymington YC Optimist Open took place on the 14-15 June. Members of the Teams already selected to compete in the Optimist World and European Championships use this event for key practice. This year a large contingent of Optimist sailors from RLymYC’s reciprocal Club, Les Societes des Regattes in Le Havre had travelled across to take part plus sailors from Holland, Ireland, Dubai and with strong support from Scotland and Wales, there was a high level of competition and a very international flavour.

A sea breeze kicked in early on Saturday and conditions looked perfect for the 120 competitors. The warmth of the sun ashore before launch was in fact so beguiling that a number of sailors (and rib crews!) went afloat insufficiently clad to keep them going through the long day which grew progressively colder as the strength of the wind increased.

Geoff’s “Course 3” was explained at the briefing and in the event was used throughout the two days. It was designed to allow sailors to profit from the outgoing tide: a long offshore beat, a run and across to an inshore shorter second beat, a reach across to a second run and then a reach to the finish.

With perfect conditions to challenge the top sailors, a number of sailors (especially those not wearing enough layers!) had retired by the fourth race which Geoff was pleased to be able to fit in to the day thus taking the pressure off Sunday.

Sunday presented bright skies again but much lighter airs; after a long slow beat to the race course and a frustrating four aborted starts it was lunchtime when the first race finally got underway. However the six races in the series were completed by mid afternoon and the results were as follows: First Christian Townrow (14 points), second Tom Britz (18 points) closely followed by Guillaume Pirouelle in third (19 points). Craig Dibb from Warsash with a first in the final race, took fourth and pipped Annabel Vose who had picked up an unfortunate BFD in the 5th race, into fifth place overall. Once again prizes were awarded for individual achievement as well as position thanks to Harken and awards from IBI Sailing. Late into the evening event coordinator Lionel Wolovitz together with Ros Urwin and Pete Bell who had jointly and ably managed the job of safety, thanked their vast team of parent helpers for their contribution to a thoroughly successful event. All the results can be found here.

 

Interesting Optimist website

Sailors may want to check out this site

Forthcoming Events (last updated 13/01/08)

Pre-Measurement Party
All Main Fleeters need to have valid measurement certificates for the Nationals. Regatta Fleeters need vaild Buoyancy Test and need to have submitted their Level 2 IOCA by 11th July 2008. Regattas Fleeters who sailed in the Regatta Fleet last year and are still in Regatta Fllet just need to drop Fiona Rainback an email. More details to follow for the party.

National and International Events
Vovlo Musto National Chamoionships Pwllheli
9th -15h August
Regatta fleet is vastly oversubscribed with a record 112 entrants accepted and a waiting list in operation. For the first time there is a Regatta Fleet Starter Group for under 8s. If you can help with a RIB for this event please contact IOCA. There are alread 165 registered for the Junior Fleet, leaving just 5 spaces and in the Seniors there ar just 3 spaces left of the 150 available so you had better be quick! For all Nationals info visit this link.
IODA European Championships at Lake Garda, Italy 28th June - 6th July
IODA World Championship at Cesme Izmir, Turkey French Championships 14th - 25th July Atlantic Area Water Sports Games, Getx 19th - 25th July
French Championships, Aix les Bains 16th-23rd August
Irish National, Tralee Bay Sailing Club, Kerry 20th-23rd August
Swiss Open National, Lake Geneva 21st-24th Aug Welsh Open Championship, Cardiff Bay Yacht Club 23rd-25th Aug
IOCA End of Seasons, Rutland 11th-12th Oct

RYA South Zone Squad Application
To be considered for a place in the South Zone 2008/09 you have to apply to sail on line here
and enter the following events:
13th September at Datchet - see RYA website for details
27th/28th September - RYA South Zone Championships at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy - enter using this link
4th October Open training at Spinnaker - enter on the IOCA website
For more information see these pages RYA South Zone or your Fleet Leader

Flotilla Meeting - All Welcome
There is currently no meeting scheduled

Second Moppy Camp
This camp is now full. For those sailors lucky enough to have a place don't forget your packed lunch, sun cream, hat, buckets of cake to share and a smile!

Swim Training
Swim training have now started on Thursdays at Lymington Recreation Centre from 7.00pm to 7.45pm. It is a specific session for the sailors separate from public swimming and before the main swim training sessions. There is also public swimming so parents can swim too! Please note that Gaile is away the last week of November.

Children in Need 10th Anniversary at the Salterns 14/15th November 2008
Going for gold - This is the tenth year that the Salterns is participating in the CIN Appeal. So far the club has raised a massive £47,000, which is a tribute to the many parents, sailors, local people, shops, businesses and pubs. The BBC now view it as one of the key events in the South so if you want the chance to be a TV star come and join in the fun. Overnight sailing is open to Blue and Green pennant holders, but all Salterns Club members are welcome on the Saturday. The club is inviting past commodores and there is plenty of action planned. For more information please contact

 

Dates for your Diary
Local Regattas:
19th July Hayling Island
6th September Papercourt
13th Semptember Datchet (see above)
13/14th September Spinnaker IOCA Random pairs
20th September Spinnaker Open
27/28th September DOth Zone Champs WPSA
4th October Spinnaker Open Training