The 2024 Optimist European Championships was hosted at the Club Nautico, Marina de Carrara in Italy from the 29th of June – 6th of July. With 257 competitors from 45 countries, split 157 Boys in three fleets and 120 girls in two fleets.
The four sailors representing New Zealand were Jake Dickey from Napier Sailing Club and Lauchlan Wills from Howick Sailing Club in the boys, and Charlotte Handley from Murrays Bay Sailing Club and Zofia Wells from Glendowie Boating Club in the girls. Andrew Wills was the Team coach. I was supporting in the Team Leader role.
The sailors prepared well prior to leaving for Europe, with the main training camp over Kings birthday weekend in Napier, this helped ensure all of the sailors got to know each other prior to leaving, as they were all from different clubs.
We were early to arrive at the venue in Carrara, the third country at the venue after USA and Argentina. The team set to work setting up their charter boats how they like them, before getting in a quick session in to test their gear before heading to the accommodation.
The accommodation was an old tower built in 1933, not much had changed since! It made the Peter Snell Camp look like 5 star. Our team, well prepared settled in, while other teams started moving out looking for other places to stay.
The first few days of training the weather was unsettled, cold with rain and unusual wind directions. Additionally 3 of our 4 sailors had a brief stomach bug.
On day 3 the weather settled into a standard pattern and the team got 2 great days of training done with various other teams on the course area. On the 27th and 28th the Italian team hosted a practice regatta on the course, which gave the team some exposure to the start lines and top marks, which were more aggressive than they are used to at home.
We took the day off on the 29th, taking advantage of a strange forecast for a break before we got into the racing seemed a good idea. A day spent exploring the Cinque Terre by train for some amazing food and swimming, including a dip with a 40 knot plus weather bomb passing through made for a great day out.
The 30th was opening Ceremony day, the team had a final tune up, before getting the flag out and parading into the town square waving their flags up onto the stage, with all of the other teams from around the world.
Racing scheduled was three days of qualifying races and two days of finals racing with a maximum of ten races.
Day 1 was postponed with no wind until 3pm in the afternoon when the sailors were sent out on a long tow to the course. 2 hours later they were back with no races completed.
Day 2 the breeze came in with 5-10 knots, and the race committee ran 3 races for all 5 fleets. All of the team had good speed, but struggled to execute their plan of getting to the right, continuing to be bounced to the left of the course by boats on starboard.
Results from Day 2 – Jake 38,39,21 – Lauchy 48,44,42 – Charlotte 41, 41, 37 – Zofia 5, 9 , 23
Day 3 D flag went up at 2pm, for a building breeze. The first race of the day in nearly 15 knots. Zofia got a second yellow flag in the first general recall of the day, and some confusion of whether she was allowed to restart, meant she was a bit late off the line, learning for the future. The whole team executed better on the second day of racing managing to navigate the fleet to find lanes to the favoured right more effectively. With two races done, enough to go to the finals series, the fleets were sent in.
Results from Day 3 – Jake 19, 14 – Lauchy 29 , 21 – Charlotte 44, 41 – Zofia 43, 4
At the end of qualifying, Zofia was in Gold Fleet, Charlotte and Jake in Silver Fleet, and Lauchy in Bronze Fleet.
Day 4 – The first day of finals.
Sent out to the course on time, the race officers intention was to get 3 races away in a light 5 knot breeze, more shifty than we had had in previous days. A challenging day for all fleets, with all of our sailors sailing intelligently, continuing to improve as the regatta progresses.
Results from Day 4 – Jake 26, 8, 16 – Lauchy 2, 15, 8 – Charlotte 10, 20, 10 – Zofia 3, 21, 14
Day 5 – The last Day
All fleets were sent out optimistically on a very light forecast with no breeze in sight. Held on the water while the hours passed, getting closer to the last possible start time of 3pm. At 2:30pm the bronze and silver fleets were sent ashore, and at 2:50 the gold fleet girls got into a start sequence.
Zofia started conservatively and rounded the top mark in 19th, she sailed a smart second upwind while people around her were struggling, to finish 11th and jump into 7th overall.
Final Results
- Zofia – 7th
- Jake – 65th
- Charlotte – 79th
- Lauchy – 108th
The event was a great experience for the team, and all of our sailors had great boat speed, but took some time to get comfortable with racing in the larger closer fleets.
The Prizegiving ceremony was a great event. The girls was won by an Croatian girl, and the boys by the defending champion from Greece. This was followed up over the next few hours with all the sailors trading clothing with other teams, back at the accommodation.
The experience for our sailors to be able to compete at the top level is something very special.
It was a huge privilege to support our team and I am very proud of the way our sailors conducted themselves throughout the event.
James Wells Team Leader
