FINAL RESULTS
OPTI AND LASER 4.7 SAILORS UP TO THE CHALLENGE!
NEWPORT, RI - Over 80 sailors participated in this past weekend's Sail Newport Opti and Laser 4.7 Challenge. Two brisk days of steady 15-18 W/NW breeze delivered a definite challenge to the dinghy sailors aged 9-15.
On Saturday, June 10, with a blustery westerly, intermittent rain showers and building chop throughout the afternoon, the sailors perservered to complete four races in the Optimist Red, White and Blue and Laser 4.7 classes. Sunday delivered a sunny, but still challenging day for the young sailors with a 15-18 west/northwesterly breeze. Overall, the weekend provided spectacular sailing conditions for the eight-race series on the race course located between Rose and Goat Islands outside of Newport (RI) Harbor.
Seventy sailors competed in the Opti Red, White and Blue Fleets. Overall, the top five finishers were Matthew Wefer (Glen Head, NY) who won three of eight races. New York City sailor Marlena Fauer had an excelent regatta and won second place overall. In third, Connor Needham (Shelter Island, NY) was only four points behind Fauer. In fourth place overall, and, the top placing local sailor, was Luke Adams (Middletown, RI). Pearson Potts (East Quogue, NY) finished as the fifth best sailor of the 2006 Opti Challenge.
Before class trophies were presented, Chief Judge Noel Field awarded a special sportsmanship award to Opti sailor Gary Prieto and his father Rich (Cutchogue, NY). The pair was recognized after they sought out scorers to tell them that another sailor actually deserved the first place lower points in a decisive race. The father-son duo's honesty "cost" Gary the first place trophy but won both of them the admiration and respect of fellow competitors and race organizers. In addition, Middletown, RI, Opti sailor Ollie Gill was given the Perserverance Award after the Race Commitee nominated him for "outstanding spirit and perserverance" on the race course.
New to the event this year, the growing Laser 4.7 class included thirteen boats. Top place was captured by Brendan Faria (Middletown, RI) with four first place finishes in eight races and a final low score of thirteen. Dan Nickerson (Noank, CT) had an equally impressive regatta with eighteen final points and a second place finish. Vincent Galdi (Congers, NJ) and Sail Newport's Billy Hluchen (Middletown, RI) scored exactly thirty two points each but a first place finish in race six broke the tie in favor of Galdi. A mere two points behind Galdi and Hluchen, East Greenwich, RI, sailor Matthew Gowell finished fifth.
A superlative race commitee was lead by Sail Newport's Ron Hopkins (Barrington, RI) and his team aboard Dick Allphin's (Jamestown, RI) "Nancy B" and other support boats. Almost fifty individuals volunteered to spend their weekend on the water to run races for the young sailors. Hats off to the talented and very professional race management team.
The sponsors of youth sailing enable Sail Newport to continue to offer such popular regattas. A special thank you to No-Ad Suncare, Annapolis Performance Sailing, McLaughlin, Armchair Sailor Books & Charts, Crystal Spring Water, Vanguard and Coca-Cola.
THANK YOU!
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A Vanguard van will be onsite before racing on Saturday and Sunday to supply Opti and Laser 4.7 parts
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