English Lad Takes Top "Optimist"Title

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English lad takes top "Optimist" title

Twelve-year-old Gilford school lad Aaron Smith has won the 2005 Irish and British National "Optimist" championships sailed over four days at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough.

Aaron won convincingly with four first positions in the nine-race series, a second and two thirds giving him a total of 12 points.  This put him well ahead of the remainder of the fleet based on yacht racing's lowest points ranking system.

Second overall position went to Howth Yacht Club girl Diana Kissane (sail 1153) who had put up a brave challenge for the title in the earlier races. Diana collected 20 points in all

The third position was taken by clubmade Tim O'Laire (sail 1141) whi notched up a final total of 22 points.

Young Aaron, who sails with PapercourtSC in Surrey and Chichester Yacht Club in Chichester, England, said afterwards he was delighted with his win which he didn't expect when he entered the championships.

He was accompanied by his coach Olivier Vidal from Waymouth who himself sails a "49-er" Olympic class boat.  Aaron travelled with his coach and the parents of another competitor from an English club as his parents are currently on holiday in Italy.

He attends the George Abbot secondary school in Gilford.

The new Irish champion said afterwards that the championships represented his first major victory in the world of competitive yacht racing. HIs boat, which was acquired new about four months ago, is sail number 5447 and so far, he said, he hadn't thought of an appropriate name yet. He has been sailing for 4 years.

"It's my first time in Northern Ireland and it's been great," he said. "I enjoyed the series and if you ask me who was my nearest rival I would say the whole fleet..."he remarked.” The sailing was marvellous and it was all great fun and I really enjoyed myself."

Aaron raced in all nine races staged over the four days - there was no racing on Thursday due to lack of wind - and he discarded two results, a seventh position and a sixth, which the total race tally allowed competitors.

His coach, Olivier Vidal, was clearly pleased with his student's achievement and indicated Aaron will go ahead and compete in more major national events in future.

The top ranked boat in the silver fleet - the top three entrants sailed in the gold fleet - was no. 1064 sailed by Philip Bendon (GHYC). Second silver was helmed by Scott Flanigan of Howth Yacht Club (no. 1155) and third was Jack Burke of Royal St. George YC and Royal Irish YC in Dun Laoghaire. The bronze fleet was headed by Graham Daly of SSC.

Principal Race Officer Mr. Harry Gallagher from Howth Yacht Club and Sutton Dinghy Club in Dublin presssed for the nine-race total in order that competitiors could discard two results.

Launching for the first race yesterday (Saturday) was held up by a lack of wind and by the fact that a 500-yard pipeline was being towed by two tugs to a site nearby undergoing commercial development. From the vantage point of the upper slopes of the Cave Hill which overlooks Belfast Lough the pipeline appeared similar to a red snake swimming in an easterly direction down the Victoria Channel to its final destination...

As the championships were coming to an end, the Belfast public enjoyed guided tours of the Royal Navy's Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel "HMS Argus" which was open for viewing from 12noon until 5pm on Saturday.

First course

Mr. Gallagher said,"We set the first course for a steady north westerly wind, but just moments before the start the wind faded and went around to the east - so there was a postponement while a new course was set. Eventually competitors got away on a steady easterly breeze and bright sunshine.

"We had a total of 127 'Optimists' compeiting in the main fleet with a further 20 or so in the beginners' Regatta Fleet.

Mr. Gallagher said both races required general restarts on Saturday and there were 12 disqualifications.

"I can say with hand on heart that I received tremendous support from all 22 support boats on the water over the last four days - line layers, mark layers and ofcourse the rescue boats. They were really tremendous and both their handling and radio communciations were most professional.

"I would also acknowledge the back-up given to the championships by Royal North members who gave up so much of their free time to ensure that so many Irish and British 'Optimist' sailors enjoyed such a successful and safe four-day championship.  They all deserve the highest possible praise.  the police who managed a traffic diversion close to the Club and the St. John Ambulance who also attended deserve the highest praise also. "

Overall provisional results  

Gold Fleet: 1. Aaron Smith; 2. Diana Kissane; 3. Tim 0'Laire; 4. Cian O'Regan (KInsale YC, 1141, 29 pts); 5. Oliver Porter (RLYC, 5466, 30 pts.); 6. Katie Tingle (Royal Cork YC, 1170, 31pts.).

By Maurice Withers.

Royal North Press Officer.