Windy Wellington lived up to its name last week for the 2020 Toyota Optimist Nationals hosted by Worser Bay Boating Club.
For the first two days of racing, 126 sailors had consistently good breeze that provided interesting racing in the Green, White and Open fleets, allowing the race management to sneak in four races on both days.
After two days of racing, Doyle powered Optimist sailors found themselves in dominant positions. Cameron Brown finishing 5th and Tom Pilkington finishing 8th out of 75 sailors in the Open Fleet.
Doyle Sails dominated the white fleet with the first four optimists all powered by Doyle Sails. In 1st place was Ruben Newton with Callum Noyer in 2nd, Marlon Porteous in 3rd and Niamh Shanahan in 4th (also 1st girl), a brilliant result with 22 sailors on the start line.
In the Green Fleet, Tom Shannon also took the top spot with a 1st place win out of 29 sailors.
The last two days, unfortunately the Wellington breeze filled in and racing was abandoned on day three and four. However, the event was a great success after initial postponement earlier in the year due to COVID-19. The regatta was held for all sailors within the Opti age limit of 15yrs and will stand alone to determine our 2020 National Class Champion as well as the top placing NZIODA White and Green fleet sailors for 2020.