Nick Thompson wins Ford Irish Optimist Championships

The Royal Cork YC hosted the 1999 Championships between 18/22 August, and attracted the largest number of competitors ever including several overseas visitors from Britain, Sweden and India. The first two days of racing for the senior fleet of 96 was held outside the harbour in a fickle light southerly breeze in bright sunshine. The Swedes dominated but Nick Thompson (just back from winning the Optimist Europeans in Greece) was well in contention with a couple of wins under his belt. Tom Smedley picked up a 3,4,6 and Johnny Marshall, 5,6 to accrue some useful scores whilst the Bowmoor sailors, Philip Lasko and Christina King managed top ten results. A ripping tide towards the end of one light airs race saw all Bowmoor helms flounder on the last beat as their top ten positions turned to top thirty! Lisa Tait, in fourth place was the leading Irish helm at this stage after five races had been sailed.

Day Three and Day One for the junior fleet, saw a remarkable change in the weather conditions with strong winds and rain. Typical Irish weather our landlady said! The junior course was positioned at the closest point to the YC in Cork Harbour and whilst many of the 63 junior entrants found the conditions difficult, the seniors were faced with an initial three mile beat to their course area at the far end of the harbour. Consistency rewarded Thompson at the end of this day as some results were turned on their head in the choppy and gusty conditions. By the end of the third race less than half of the original entry were still racing! Several of the top Irish sailors revelled in the conditions and moved up the results. A much depleted junior fleet completed three races to give them a series and as the conditions were forecast to be anything from 30 knots upwards for the final day, Sunday, racing was eventually abandoned for everyone giving Thompson another title.

At the prize-giving the sailors were praised for their sailing skills in the light and the windy weather and prize-winners were presented with an attractive water colour print of an Optimist sailing off Cork Harbour. A superb event enjoyed by sailors and parents alike. There were activities and a meal organised and included in the entry fee every evening after sailing for the helms so they all went home with many new friends at the end of the event. Cork YC were genuinely delighted that so many British sailors had made the effort to attend their Nationals. Jamie Dobson travelled with Charlotte from Scotland, and Claire and Jenna from Cornwall. The event was very competitive with a useful range of sailing conditions and it would be difficult to find greater hospitality anywhere! Definitely a "good crack". Make it a date for 2000!

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Last modified: May 12, 2002