Team Bermuda returned recently from The 51st Optimist World Championships which concluded in Italy. The regatta was sailed on beautiful Lake Garda with 58 nations present and 259 sailors, aged between 11 and 15 years.
The Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) team of Chase Cooper, Campbell Patton, Benn Smith, Ceci Wollmann and Mikey Wollmann all showed their potential with great finishes at various times of the regatta but like many of the sailors, their consistency was challenged by the uncharacteristic light wind conditions over the 10 days. Cooper was the top local sailor finishing in 111th followed by Patton in 113th. Patton, the youngest local sailor at age 12 sailed extremely well in his first World Championship.
Mikey Wollmann took the 120th spot, his sister Ceci finished in 123rd and Benn Smith finished in 130th.
BODA's High Performance Coach Martin Jenkins said, "I was encouraged by some of the top Bermuda finishes during the Championships but I really wish that Lake Garda had delivered the steady 16 - 20 knots it is famous for.
The difference in wind conditions from flight to flight on most race days made it very difficult for some of the sailors. While I know some hoped to end higher in the standings, the entire Bermuda team finished in the top half against the world's best Optimist sailors and should be very proud."
Loh Jia Yi of Singapore dominated from the start of the regatta, ahead of German Nils Sternbeck, the only skipper who managed to challenge the Singaporean team. Loh Jia Yi has had an impressive series with 6 victories, two seconds, a third, and discarding a twenty-third. Singapore occupied 4 of the top 6 spots, including top boy and top girl and also won the team racing event.
Peter Barclay, President of the International Optimist Class said. "We felt like we were at home, the reception of Riva del Garda, the Guild Vela Riva and the Italian Optimist Class was great, the sailors have had a fantastic experience. The International Optimist Dinghy Association works with the aim to bring youth sailing to the world. At a World Championship like this the performance level is very high and we are very pleased to have so many nations competing. It is our responsibility to provide a great start for these young sailors and to help them find a "skill for life" he concluded.
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