British
TRIUMPH IN HOLLAND, BRASSEMERMEER EASTER REGATTA 1997 - SPONSORED BY O’NEILL
Thirty-seven British helms set off for Holland once again over Easter
with a number arriving a few days early for some warm up training and many arriving on the
Good Friday in time for the talk on the new rules and the practice race. The rules talk
was given in "simple English" for non-native English speakers - it suited us
just fine! It was a windy crossing for most people on the ferry over and the wind had not
abated by the Friday afternoon, hence the practice race was cancelled so many people went
off for some hasty sightseeing. There were a total of 272 helms from 15 European
countries.
Saturday began with a breeze again and race 1 was sailed in a mostly
force 6 and top 10 places were achieved by Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes (5), Paul Campbell-James
(6), Karen Greenland (7) and Elliot Willis (8). The afternoon race was just as windy with
many helms retiring from the blow. Sunday dawned bright and sunny with not a lot of wind
at all. Those staying by the coast were however surprised to find a force 1 blowing across
the lake. This gradually increased over the day to give a reasonable force 2-3 wind but
very shifty and 
unpredictable. This
produced testing sailing conditions but Paul Campbell-James managed to stamp his mark on
the day with two firsts. Stephen Broom led for much of one of his races but lost it on the
final beat in a tacking duel to second place.
By the final day, Monday, the British were better placed for honours
than in many a year. Paul Campbell-James sailed well for a third place Eliott Willis got a
second. This meant that it was all to play for in the final race after the helms had been
divided into gold, silver and bronze fleets. Britain had a total of 11 helms in the gold
fleet with Nicky Barnes being the only British girl. Seventeen British helms were in the
silver fleet and the remainder in the bronze. Paul was in with a chance at the title but
had to beat the Dane, Mats Ebler, by at least seven points to win. Paul won the gold fleet
- you can’t do better than that - and fortunately the Dane was 8th giving
him 14 points and the championship to Paul Campbell-James. Britain won this event for the
first time since Richard Lovering in 1988 and we also had the top 4 helms from one
country, Paul Campbell-James, Elliot Willis, Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes and Mark Powell, thus
gaining the country team prize. An excellent result for all British helms who attended and
it augers well for the development of the Optimist class in this country for the future.
Mike Greenland
Results: 1st Paul Campbell-James (GB), 2nd
Mats Ebler (Den), 3rd Siren Sunby (NOR), British results: Gold: 1st
Paul Campbell-James, 7th Elliot Willis, 14th Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes,
25th Mark Powell, 30th Alex Cherry, 47th Nicola Barnes,
48th Nick Cherry, 53rd Nick Asher, 57th Stephen Broom, 69th
Ian Hunter, 73rd Edward Dashfield. Silver: 7th Domonic Boon, 8th
Olivier Vidal, 9th Gemma Silk, 15th Amanda Lassen, 20th
Shona Brooks, 25th Jonathan Marshall, 29th Sam Richmond, 49th
Benjamin Marshall, 56th Gemma Fitzjohn-Sykes, 64th Karen Greenland,
67th Myles Willis, 69th Edward Huntley, 74th Sophia
Hulbert, 80th Robert Copley, 85th Charles Frize, 87th
James Spencer, 89th Amy Morgan. Bronze: 12th Robert Holmes, 16th
Ian Martin, 17th Christopher Catt, 21st Richard Palmer, 26th
Stephen Powell, 32nd Jonathan Frazer, 38th Paul Davies, 50th
Dominic Hutton, 64th Charles Roome.
