Brilliant British at Braassemermeer 1998

The British Team of 44 sailors invited to attend the 13^th O’Neill Easter Optimist Regatta in Braassemermeer, Holland had a lot to live up to after last year’s superb efforts. Several questions were floating around the British Optimist circuit. Could Paul Campbell-James successfully defend his title? Could Elliot Willis remember how to sail his Optimist after a quiet winter without squad training? Could the Brits possibly do as well as they did in 1997? Would the wind on the Braassem still be fickle and cold?

Yes, yes, yes and yes is our reply.

260 Optimists entered the regatta from 11 various countries. The event was held over the 4 days of Easter in a variety of winds. The fleet was divided into 6 groups with 3 flights for each race, starting at 10 minute intervals. 6 races plus a practice race were scheduled.

Easter Saturday saw the first 2 races. A force 2 was blowing, which was a relief to see after the extremely light winds of the practice race the previous day. The race officer set a port end line and it was important to be at the right end. At the top of each flight in this race the predominate sail letters were GBR. It was looking as if the winter training had worked and the Brits were on form. Eddie Huntley came home 2^nd in the first flight behind Norwegian Sverre B-J Brun, with Nic Thompson in 6^th place. In flight 2 Elliot Willis showed the pace and finished 2^nd. Third and fourth produced a ding-dong battle up the last beat between Nic Asher and Paul Campbell-James, resulting in Asher glory. Jonathan Marshall had a brilliant race in flight 3 battling with 2 Belgian sailors and managed to just pip them on the line for victory and 1^st place. Ben Marshall was 4^th, Jonathan Frazer 5^th and Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes 7^th. Others who had done well in race 1 were Thomas Mallindine 11^th, Chris Catt 12^th, Stuart Frize 14^th and Stephen Powell with a 17^th. What an outstanding start!

The races were long, 2 hours of extremely competitive sailing. It was essential to catch the gusts that seemed to cross the lake in a random pattern. In addition the wind was shifting and again those who missed the shifts were seriously disadvantaged.

Gemma Farrell became spokesperson for the team at lunchtime, being photographed by the Dutch television crews for a piece that was broadcast the same evening. This inspired her to get her best result in the 2^nd race.

After a good lunch race 2 started, again with a port end bias, wind force 2. In this race several of the Brits found themselves on the wrong side of some severe wind shifts. It was not a problem for Elliot Willis in flight 1 who led from start to finish and Nic Asher who was 9th. In flight 2 Paul Campbell-James fought hard to get 2^nd to Bruno Trefois from Belgium and in flight 3 Jonathan Frazer was 5^th again. Peter Gray featured with an 11^th in his race and Chris Catt and James Gray were 14^th.

By the end of the day the British had first and second overall and 4 in the top 10.

I’m not sure what Nic Cherry said to the race officer but he (accidentally) shot a hole in Nic’s sail with the starting gun at the start of the second race. A clever little appeal resulted in a useful redress.

The Easter bunnies greeted everyone at the club the following morning with little Easter eggs. The wind had increased and the temperature had dropped. A gusty breeze ranging from force 4 to force 6 prevailed. The bigger guys and gals were looking much happier! The race officer set an enormous course in the testing conditions. The line had much less bias than the previous day for the first start and brilliant starts by Paul Campbell-James and Paul Burgoine, closely followed by Dominic Hutton meant a good showing at the windward mark. Paul Campbell-James then stretched out a commanding lead but a quick bath for Paul Burgoine when lying 2^nd dropped him down to 15^th in the race. Aiden Webb showed true grit finishing 9^th. The second flight was won by Koen de Smedt from Belgium and the third by Mads Ebler from Denmark, with one of the top British girls, Gemma Silk, finishing 7^th. Elliot Willis fought hard to get 4^th and Jonathan Marshall 8^th, both having had not so good first beats. James Gray was also enjoying the wind.

The younger Brits found it hard but impressive efforts were made by Tom Barnes who stuck out the whole race and Thomas Mallindine who was in a terrific position until he capsized and was forced to retire.

A good decision was made by the race officer to set only one lap for the afternoon race, as many of the younger and less experienced sailors were exhausted already by the strong, cold winds. It still left a good length race. Paul Campbell-James and Mads Ebler again both stormed away with victories in each of their flights. Gemma Silk was unlucky to capsize, when lying 2^nd, going up the last beat. Jonathan Marshall produced another 8^th and an exceptional performance by Myles Willis gave him a 3^rd place in the 3^rd flight. Also enjoying the conditions were Stephen Broom with a 10^th and Ian Martin with an 11^th.

A stormy night lay ahead of us and the next morning the race officer first postponed, and then abandoned racing for the day. This left the defending champion Paul Campbell-James to take the title with last year’s runner up Mads Ebler from Denmark second again. 3^rd was Elliot Willis. Golden rats were their prizes!

Jonathan Marshall was 3^rd British with a 9^th overall and Olivier Vidal 4^th British having no results in the top ten but proving consistency is essential, especially when no discards are applied. Many sailors had either a good first day or a good second day depending on whether they preferred the heavier or lighter conditions.

For the British girls the battle was as intense as ever particularly with the selections looming up fast. Gemma Silk was the star of day 2 and the leading British girl. Amy Morgan was more consistent, also going particularly well in the heavier conditions to be second British girl and Shona Brooks despite leading the girls after the first day of racing didn’t like the windier weather and was third.

A record number of 18 sailors finished in the gold fleet, 19 in the silver fleet and only 7 in the bronze fleet. Kate Barnes did well to finish in the silver fleet, James Tilley was also delighted because her success meant that he was top of the bronze fleet winning a bronze rat.

For many British sailors it was their first experience of proper foreign competition. This is one of the hardest events in the calendar with lots of boats and fickle winds. Virtually everyone in the British team had a moment of success, even if it was not reflected in their final results. Well done to all of you.

ant British at Braassemermeer

The British Team of 44 sailors invited to attend the 13^th O’Neill Easter Optimist Regatta in Braassemermeer, Holland had a lot to live up to after last year’s superb efforts. Several questions were floating around the British Optimist circuit. Could Paul Campbell-James successfully defend his title? Could Elliot Willis remember how to sail his Optimist after a quiet winter without squad training? Could the Brits possibly do as well as they did in 1997? Would the wind on the Braassem still be fickle and cold?

Yes, yes, yes and yes is our reply.

260 Optimists entered the regatta from 11 various countries. The event was held over the 4 days of Easter in a variety of winds. The fleet was divided into 6 groups with 3 flights for each race, starting at 10 minute intervals. 6 races plus a practice race were scheduled.

Easter Saturday saw the first 2 races. A force 2 was blowing, which was a relief to see after the extremely light winds of the practice race the previous day. The race officer set a port end line and it was important to be at the right end. At the top of each flight in this race the predominate sail letters were GBR. It was looking as if the winter training had worked and the Brits were on form. Eddie Huntley came home 2^nd in the first flight behind Norwegian Sverre B-J Brun, with Nic Thompson in 6^th place. In flight 2 Elliot Willis showed the pace and finished 2^nd. Third and fourth produced a ding-dong battle up the last beat between Nic Asher and Paul Campbell-James, resulting in Asher glory. Jonathan Marshall had a brilliant race in flight 3 battling with 2 Belgian sailors and managed to just pip them on the line for victory and 1^st place. Ben Marshall was 4^th, Jonathan Frazer 5^th and Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes 7^th. Others who had done well in race 1 were Thomas Mallindine 11^th, Chris Catt 12^th, Stuart Frize 14^th and Stephen Powell with a 17^th. What an outstanding start!

The races were long, 2 hours of extremely competitive sailing. It was essential to catch the gusts that seemed to cross the lake in a random pattern. In addition the wind was shifting and again those who missed the shifts were seriously disadvantaged.

Gemma Farrell became spokesperson for the team at lunchtime, being photographed by the Dutch television crews for a piece that was broadcast the same evening. This inspired her to get her best result in the 2^nd race.

After a good lunch race 2 started, again with a port end bias, wind force 2. In this race several of the Brits found themselves on the wrong side of some severe wind shifts. It was not a problem for Elliot Willis in flight 1 who led from start to finish and Nic Asher who was 9th. In flight 2 Paul Campbell-James fought hard to get 2^nd to Bruno Trefois from Belgium and in flight 3 Jonathan Frazer was 5^th again. Peter Gray featured with an 11^th in his race and Chris Catt and James Gray were 14^th.

By the end of the day the British had first and second overall and 4 in the top 10.

I’m not sure what Nic Cherry said to the race officer but he (accidentally) shot a hole in Nic’s sail with the starting gun at the start of the second race. A clever little appeal resulted in a useful redress.

The Easter bunnies greeted everyone at the club the following morning with little Easter eggs. The wind had increased and the temperature had dropped. A gusty breeze ranging from force 4 to force 6 prevailed. The bigger guys and gals were looking much happier! The race officer set an enormous course in the testing conditions. The line had much less bias than the previous day for the first start and brilliant starts by Paul Campbell-James and Paul Burgoine, closely followed by Dominic Hutton meant a good showing at the windward mark. Paul Campbell-James then stretched out a commanding lead but a quick bath for Paul Burgoine when lying 2^nd dropped him down to 15^th in the race. Aiden Webb showed true grit finishing 9^th. The second flight was won by Koen de Smedt from Belgium and the third by Mads Ebler from Denmark, with one of the top British girls, Gemma Silk, finishing 7^th. Elliot Willis fought hard to get 4^th and Jonathan Marshall 8^th, both having had not so good first beats. James Gray was also enjoying the wind.

The younger Brits found it hard but impressive efforts were made by Tom Barnes who stuck out the whole race and Thomas Mallindine who was in a terrific position until he capsized and was forced to retire.

A good decision was made by the race officer to set only one lap for the afternoon race, as many of the younger and less experienced sailors were exhausted already by the strong, cold winds. It still left a good length race. Paul Campbell-James and Mads Ebler again both stormed away with victories in each of their flights. Gemma Silk was unlucky to capsize, when lying 2^nd, going up the last beat. Jonathan Marshall produced another 8^th and an exceptional performance by Myles Willis gave him a 3^rd place in the 3^rd flight. Also enjoying the conditions were Stephen Broom with a 10^th and Ian Martin with an 11^th.

A stormy night lay ahead of us and the next morning the race officer first postponed, and then abandoned racing for the day. This left the defending champion Paul Campbell-James to take the title with last year’s runner up Mads Ebler from Denmark second again. 3^rd was Elliot Willis. Golden rats were their prizes!

Jonathan Marshall was 3^rd British with a 9^th overall and Olivier Vidal 4^th British having no results in the top ten but proving consistency is essential, especially when no discards are applied. Many sailors had either a good first day or a good second day depending on whether they preferred the heavier or lighter conditions.

For the British girls the battle was as intense as ever particularly with the selections looming up fast. Gemma Silk was the star of day 2 and the leading British girl. Amy Morgan was more consistent, also going particularly well in the heavier conditions to be second British girl and Shona Brooks despite leading the girls after the first day of racing didn’t like the windier weather and was third.

A record number of 18 sailors finished in the gold fleet, 19 in the silver fleet and only 7 in the bronze fleet. Kate Barnes did well to finish in the silver fleet, James Tilley was also delighted because her success meant that he was top of the bronze fleet winning a bronze rat.

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Last modified: May 12, 2002