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Optimist 2003-2005 News Sail Information || Optimist News || Optimist Tuning Guide || Contact Optimist Experts || Order
Report by Brian Bissell Full results, here. For complete information about Optimist sails, contact our Optimist experts. To order our fast Optimist sails, click here.
By Veronica Brown
Four of the United States' top Optimist sailors returned from Gdynia, Poland at the end of July after racing in the 10-day Nivea International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) European Optimist Championship. Escorted by all of their parents and their coach, Scott Norman, Andrew Sommer from Duxbury, MA, Claire Dennis from Saratoga, CA, Alex Sachs from Miami, FL and Emily Dellenbaugh from Easton, CT earned the invitation to travel to Poland after qualifying and ranking in the top 15 in the Optimist class nationwide. The top five Optimist sailors traveled to San Moritz, Switzerland, to race in the Optimist World Championship. This was the most incredible experience that I and these kids have ever had," exclaimed Susan Cocchiano, who was asked by the USODA to act as the US team liaison during the European Championship and who is also the mother of Alex Sachs. "The level of competition and sailing was truly amazing," said Cocchiano, "We will all remember this trip for the rest of their lives." During the course of each year, Opti fleets throughout the United States qualify and become eligible to race in the team trials. This year's trials were held in May at the Severn Sailing Association in Maryland where Sommer, Dennis, Sachs and Dellenbaugh secured their spots for the European Championship, which hosted 300 boats from all over the world. The fleet for this event is split by gender and Dellenbaugh, 15, beat 92 other sailors to finish first overall in the girls' division. Dennis, 14, finished 31st and Sommer and Sachs, both 15 years-old, finished 39th and 102nd respectively in the boys' division. "We are thrilled for these kids who have come so far so early in their sailing careers," said Brian Bissell, who works for North Sails One Design with a concentration on developing and improving Optimist sails. "North Sails has recently made some design improvements after two New Zealand sailors finished 2nd and 4th at the 2004 Opti Worlds," explained Bissell. "With help from our (North) sail designers in New Zealand, we have changed the shape slightly to make them easier to trim and faster overall." For Sommer, Dennis, Sachs and Dellenbaugh, the experience was almost as good as the racing. Cocchiano mentioned how poetic and powerful it was to see teams from the Middle East sharing the racecourse in harmony while terror and conflict continue to inhabit their homelands. Above all, Cocchiano feels sailing has given these teenagers self esteem and confidence they may not have had otherwise. "The camaraderie is amazing," she concluded. "It's an incredible self-esteem-building sport." For complete results and more information on the IODA European Championship, visit www.europti.pl. For more information on the Optimist Class, visit www.usoda.org . For complete information about Optimist sails, contact our Optimist experts. To order our fast Optimist sails, click here.
For more information about our Optimist sails, don't hesitate to contact our Optimist experts.
Taylor, congratulations on achieving Top Gun honors at the National Team Practice last weekend. You join a distinguished list of past Top Gun winners. During the clinic, you were using a North New Zealand NP-1. We are all curious to know what you think about this new design. You used to sail with a cross-cut sail. Have you noticed anything different sailing with a radial-cut? Taylor: It takes a while to get use to looking at the radial panel configuration but pretty soon your just looking at the sail shape and don’t see the panels. Are there any differences in the way you trim your new sail? Taylor: Yes, for me the upper leech seemed more open so I could sheet harder. Can you tell us a little about your training for the North Americans? For example, how often do you sail? Do you train with other people? Taylor: I sailed every weekend and one day during the week until school was out. Now I have been sailing 3-5 days a week. I train with our yacht club here in Texas (Lakewood Y.C.) and often bring in other sailors from places like Southern YC to train with us. It’s more fun that way. How did you set up your sail for the National Team Practice? Were there any tricks to how much spacing you left between the sail and the spars? Did you make any changes for the big breeze? Taylor: No, no tricks. I just set the boat up normally. The sail looked good right away. In the breeze I tightened the sprit but left the outhaul fairly loose. At the National Team Practice, you finished 2nd in the fleet race and 2nd in the team race. Which do you prefer; Team Racing or Fleet Racing? Explain. Taylor: I prefer Team Racing. 95% of the time I fleet race. Team Racing brings a different element into the race course. You get to team up with many of the kids you normally race against. In International events like the NA’s the other countries really take team racing seriously. What are your short-term and long-term goals for sailing? Taylor: Short term is to place in the top 10 at the NA’s. There are a lot of good guys (and girls) racing but with a little luck I have a good chance. Last year at the NA’s I won two races so I hope to do it again. Who are your biggest influences in the sport of sailing? My original ……and current coach Ale Sole. There are a lot of great coaches, Eric and Kyle and Bocha but Ale was the guy who got me hooked on the sport. Now for some fun questions….. What’s your favorite Food? Who’s your favorite Famous Person? What type of music do you like and who’s your favorite Band? Where’s your favorite Vacation Spot? Where’s your favorite place to Sail? What’s your favorite sport to watch on TV? Who’s your favorite Sports Team?
Will, congratulations on qualifying for the 2005 US Optimist World Team. Opti sailors all over the country are curious to hear about the things you have done to reach the level of success you have achieved. Most people think the toughest Optimist regatta in the United States is the US Team Trials. Do you have any tricks that help you deal with the pressure of such a big event? Will: Before the regatta I try not to worry about my expectations. The best way not to get nervous is to prepare as well as you can. During the event I usually try not to think about the results or my finishes. Seeing how you’re doing is the best way to make yourself nervous. The Team Trials saw some really big breeze. It seemed like the sailors who could hike the longest and hardest had a real advantage. Do you do anything outside of sailing to get in shape? Will: Most every morning, my dad and I work out lifting weights and then running for at least twenty minutes. But the best way to get in shape for sailing is to sail. Can you tell us a little about your training for the Team Trials? For example, how often do you sail? Do you train with other people? Will: For Trials, I trained physically as well as spending time on the water with my team. I went to the USNT practice two weeks before the Trials and also we practiced for the 3 of the five days leading up to the event. How did you set up your sail for the trials? Were there any tricks to how much spacing you left between the sail and the spars? Did you make any changes for the big breeze? Will: I didn’t use any new tricks for the light to medium breeze, but in the heavy wind, I tried to stay powered up as much as I could to get through the chop, but not so much that I couldn’t keep it down. In the heavy stuff I tie the mast ties uniformly about 1 mm from the mast because the mast bends. In the lighter winds I leave about 8 mm on top and on bottom and uniformly loosen the second and third ties until the middle ties are about 1 mm from the mast. What were your thoughts on sailing in the Chesapeake Bay? Was it tough to figure out the current and wind shifts? Will: The Chesapeake Bay was definitely one of the harder venues I’ve sailed on. But, practicing there before the regatta helped us figure out some patterns. As for the current, my coach kept our team up to date the whole time with its velocity and direction. Now that you are on the World Team, what kind of training will you be doing for the Worlds? Will: I went to the USNT practice in NJ. I will go to the North Americans in Tobago in late June. When I come back, I will be sailing at least 6 days a week and cross training in X boats until a couple of weeks before Worlds when I will go back to strictly Opti. In mid July we will have a 3 day practice with just the World Team. And I will try to keep on my exercise program daily. What are your goals for the next boat? Will: My goals are to race in HS in both Lasers and 420’s. I’ll continue in my X boat until I age out and then get into another Scow. Now for some fun questions.. What’s your favorite Food? Who’s your favorite Famous Person? What type of music do you like and who’s your favorite Band? Where’s your favorite Vacation Spot? Where’s your favorite place to Sail? What’s your favorite sport to watch on TV? Who’s your favorite Sports Team?
TAYLOR LUTZ IS TOP GUN AT NATIONAL TEAM CLINIC
The US Optimist National Team, comprised of the top 50 optimist sailors in the country, convened June 8 at a small New Jersey beach town that is home to Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club. With plenty of breeze and sunshine, the National Team trained hard for four days straight. They are training for a variety of summer regattas including North Americans in Trinidad-Tobago, Europeans in Poland, Denmark Nationals, Flanders Youth Regatta in Belgium, and the Worlds in Switzerland. An intensely structured training regimen was implemented throughout the four clinic days with what seemed like zero time for relaxation. The team members would meet every morning at 7:00am for a 3-mile run. Each member had to complete the run in 30 minutes or less at least one time during the weekend. Other physical fitness drills were completed as well. The morning exercises were followed by a quick chalk talk and then it was time to hit the water. Lunches were provided on the water between drills. They sailed until 6pm, came in, showered, had a quick dinner and debriefed until 9pm. It was amazing to see the determination and endurance of these elite Optimist sailors. The Top Gun Award is given to one sailor at each National Team Practice. The award is given to the sailor that best exemplifies the expectations of the coaches as a model National Team Member. The Top Gun for this National Team Practice was Taylor Lutz, son of North's very own Jay Lutz. He had a very impressive showing on the water finishing 2nd in the Fleet Race and leading his team to 2nd in the Team Race. However, it was probably his antics off the water that earned him Top Gun honors. During the team runs, he would help the younger sailors make the 30-minute time limit by running along side, keeping an eye on his watch, and offering words of encouragement to help them keep pace. Now that is a true team player! Taylor was using a New Zealand NP-1 sail during the weekend and was really happy with it. From the coaches boat it looked like he had speed to burn. He plans on using it at the North Americans. For more information about our Optimist sails, don't hesitate to contact our Optimist experts.
Our North NZ sails performed very well at this years pinnacle of United States Opti Racing, the US Team Trials. It was a great test for sails since the wind ranged from 2-30 knots and 10 races were sailed. Going into the last day of racing our sails were in 2nd, 5th, and 8th. Unfortunately it didn't end up this way, but it was great to see our sails make the top 4 teams. Will Haeger of Team MOST used a NZ Green DR2+ and finished in 4th, which qualifies him for the elite World Team. Joe Kutschenreuter, also of Team MOST and using the DR2+, finished 6th, just missing out on the top five World team, but was first qualifier for the prestigious European Team. Harry Scott, the local Annapolis opti rockstar and son of North's very own Dave Scott, placed 12th which puts him on the North American Team. He also was using the DR2+. Bryan Stout of Annapolis and Gregory Dair from California both made the Flanders Team. Bryan used the DR2+ and Gregory had the NP1. You can view the results page at http://www.severnsailing.org/optiteam/results.htm. I was on hand at the regatta to witness the sheer madness that is 181 10-15 year-olds in the same place at the same time. I wore a few different hats throughout the week. I was sail measurer, safety inspector, sales rep, crash boat, regatta photographer boat, spectator boat and volunteer coach for anyone in need. The regatta was a huge success for North Sails. For more information about our Optimist sails, contact our Optimist experts.
Weber takes top Junior Race Week honor
Weber won seven of the 10 races, beating 34 other sailors in the Optimist Blue fleet. The trophy, originally donated by North Sails and Hall Spars, was re-dedicated after Peg Read's death in 1997 by her husband, Bob Read, and her sons Brad Read and Ken Read. Weber received a keeper trophy, and his name will be engraved on the permanent trophy, which was displayed at the yacht club last night. Casuarina Hart of Wakefield, who sailed with Camia Crawford representing the URI Sailing Center in 420 spinnaker division two, became the first recipient of the NBYA Ben Sammis Training Program Fund. The fund will be used each year to offset the cost for young girls and boys to attend a community sail-training program they might otherwise be unable to afford. Ben Sammis went through the sail-training program at the Barrington
Yacht
Club and received the U.S. Sailing Sportsmanship Award at the club.
As
an
instructor, with his attitude, tenacity and infectious smile, he
instilled a Sammis graduated from The Citadel, a southern military academy, and
eventually became a marine corps captain, flying Super Cobra
helicopters. He
was killed last spring on a mission to rescue fellow marines outside
The two young women continued their teamwork this summer, training as much as possible, and also volunteering to help teach younger kids how to sail. Hart's immediate goal after she enters South Kingstown High School next month is to start a sailing program there. Medals or trophies were awarded to the top three finishers in each class, and trophies were awarded to the top three NBYA junior sailors in each class, regardless of where they finished. The trophy winners by class: Optimist Green: 1 Dylan Finneran, Toms River Y.C.; 2, Johanna Kincaid, Saunderstown Y.C.; 3, Scott Barger, Manchester Sailing Anex. Optimist Blue: 1, Charlie Weber, Wickford Y.C.; 2, Michael Darlington, East Greenwich Y.C.; ,3, Ryan Mullins, East Greenwich Y.C. Optimist Red; 1, Alex Takata,
Larchmont Y.C.; 2, William Hluchan, Sail
Newport; 3, Tim Hluchan, Sail Newport.
For more information on Sabot sails, contact the North Optimist experts.
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The conclusion of the Optimist Midwinters could not have gone much better for North Sails. Nick Johnstone with a DR2+ won the regatta and Taylor Lutz, also with a DR2+, finished 2nd. Greg Dair with an NP-1 finished 5th. Our designs did really well with winds ranging from 0-12 knots. An impressive note was that Greg Dair weighs 100lbs and was still able to make the NP-1 go in light air. Lots of kids using North Sails made the event a great event for North!
BARRINGTON -- Charlie Weber of the Wickford Yacht Club won the Peggy
Read
Trophy as the outstanding sailor in this year's NBYA Junior Race Week
at
the
Barrington Yacht Club.
Hart, 14, started sailing three years ago. Last summer she decided
she
wanted to learn to race. She had no money to enter a racing program
and
no
one to teach her, but she and Crawford taught themselves. "We
got a
One
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