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What's so great about Braassemermeer? The Easter Regatta at Braassemermeer in Holland is by invitation only. All 290 sailors from a dozen countries who compete had to pre-qualify at national level before attending. IODAI selects the top 25 available Irish sailors to invite to make up a team. For most under 15 year olds, it is the pinnacle of their sailing career in Optimists, hence the overwhelming pride in being part of the Irish team. |
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Outward Bound Twenty-five excited young oppy sailors dressed in their smart navy hoodies met in Schipol Airport, Amsterdam on Tuesday March 22nd. The Dublin contingent had been treated to an opportunity of viewing the Airbus A320 cockpit at disembarkation by Captain Gerry Comerford, an active Squib sailor in Howth Yacht Club. By the time we reached Braassemermeer Yacht Club, the Cork contingent had already unloaded the boats from the IODAI 25 boat trailer, a gesture that was most appreciated. Full marks to Philip Brownlow and his team for getting things off to a great start. Coaching Irish olympic coach, Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell and Braassemermeer 2004 veteran coach, Tristan McMillan made up the coach team. Wednesday and Thursday was dedicated to rigorous coaching. The coach team was very professional and the sailors were very cooperative in their thirst to learn from such quality coaches. They were each a credit to themselves and their clubs both on and off the water. There was a view that more time on the water would have been desirable but this was not logistically possible. Practice Day Warning Friday was practice day with an all boats start (290 on the line). Given the impossibility of a fair line with that many boats, this race is not taken very seriously and the results are not part of the regatta. The PRO displayed great leniency at the start of the practice race. At the windward mark, a board displayed the ominous message 'Catch you tomorrow!' Team Structure The primary organiser of the Irish Team was Alice Kissane ably assisted at the helm by Greg Lawless (both HYC). There was no shortage of enjoyment by the back-up team of about a dozen parents who balanced their responsibilities for the 25 sailors with the reality that they were after all, on holidays! They were unaware that Big Brother was watching them. Alice received a text message while she was having lunch with Sean O'Laoire asking her to wave. Her husband, IODAI President, Richard could see her live over the internet via the Braassemermeer webcam. You can't get away with anything these days! Off-the-Water Accommodation for the team was based on the North Sea coastal resort of Norwijk about 45 minutes by bus to Braassemermeer. Despite having a menu that didn't meet the gourmet home standards of the sailors, other relaxed aspects of the Hotel made it suitable for the team. There was snooker, swimming and socialising for those who had any energy left after a full day's sailing. The Regatta Begins Saturday was a dull and overcast day with no more than 5 knots of shifty winds, making it very difficult for the young sailors. It was a great disappointment to seventeen of the Irish sailors to discover that they had been black-flagged in the assertiveness on the start-line. Prof and Tristan addressed the issue at de-brief and there were no more black flags for the duration of the regatta. On Saturday night there was a cloud of disappointment hanging over the hopefuls in the Irish camp. It seemed that the months and years of preparation from these motivated contenders were not being reflected in the results. Sunday's racing in 7 knots was also very challenging with the odd good results in the Irish camp. For Monday, the previous two days results were used to divide the fleet into Gold, Silver & Bronze. Cian O'Regan of KYC was the shining light for the Irish team and the single sailor to make it into the gold fleet. Full Irish results are included below. Friendly Rivalry On the plus side, there was a very happy, carefree and joyfull relationship between the sailors from all countries. It never ceases to amaze adults at the ease with which teenagers can forge new friendships that will be long remembered and treasured. Many of these sailors will cross paths again in future international competitions, such is the wonderful community that sailing provides. Final Analysis Afrodite Kyranakou of Greece was the deserving winner wit the following results .. 5 2 1 2 1 (7) = 11 About the Irish results There was a general concern that these did not do justice to the skills of the Irish team. The black flags were central to their disappointing performance. Many sailors achieved great starts and sailed well until the last beat due to the exceptional length of the trapezoidal course and the duration of the races (up to 1 hour and 45 minutes). With such long races in exceptionally light and shifty conditions, it is difficult for sailors to remain focussed for such a prolonged time. The huge numbers of boats on the water (290) was often intimidating and the various fleets crossed courses. Whatever is said, there is no doubt that the experience of participating in such a huge regatta is an unforgettable memory for every Irish Optimist sailor and one to which they will refer for years to come. Well done team! |
| FINAL RESULTS for Irish Boats | |
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| Gold Fleet | |||
| 88 | IRL 1105 | O'Regan Cian | 173.0 46 6 (bfd) 26 30 65 |
| Silver Fleet | |||
| 34 | IRL 1150 | Vaughan Ross | 196.0 24 67 (bfd) 22 45 38 |
| 39 | IRL 1019 | Boylan Mark | 202.0 50 56 (bfd) 27 40 29 |
| 43 | IRL 1154 | Finnegan Luke | 209.0 54 (74) 39 68 33 15 |
| 48 | IRL 1145 | Kenefick David | 217.0 63 62 (bfd) 25 39 28 |
| 49 | IRL 1141 | O'Laoire Timothy | 218.0 54 34 (bfd) 40 14 76 |
| 56 | IRL 1129 | Costigan Jack | 226.0 (bfd) 64 40 50 52 20 |
| 66 | IRL 1114 | Rumball Alyson | 231.0 12 70 (bfd) 30 42 77 |
| 70 | IRL 1107 | Leonard Maeve | 240.0 (69) 46 50 49 38 57 |
| 74 | IRL 1161 | Brien Tiffany | 244.0 (bfd) 77 19 43 64 41 |
| 89 | IRL 1087 | Lawless Adam | 266.0 61 24 49 67 65 (75) |
| Bronze Fleet | |||
| 26 | IRL 1023 | Kissane Diana | 268.0 (bfd) 29 bfd 54 61 34 |
| 27 | IRL 1163 | Dix Patrick | 269.0 (80) 79 44 65 60 21 |
| 33 | IRL 944 | Scallan Ben | 279.0 (bfd) 61 bfd 63 56 8 |
| 34 | IRL 1147 | Ryan Andrew | 281.0 58 (75) 57 58 71 37 |
| 35 | IRL 992 | Murphy Jennifer | 282.0 66 45 45 64 (80) 62 |
| 36 | IRL 1059 | Tingle Sallyann | 286.0 42 71 (bfd) 51 75 47 |
| 40 | IRL 1117 | Vaughan Brian | 293.0 43 68 61 65 (77) 56 |
| 41 | IRL 994 | Coady Nessa | 295.0 63 66 62 (77) 66 38 |
| 61 | IRL 1008 | Kingston John | 331.0 76 80 55 79 (85) 41 |
| 62 | IRL 927 | White Katie | 331.0 81 (85) 50 75 74 51 |
| 67 | IRL 1122 | Brownlow Wesley | 341.0 54 (dns) 35 dsq 72 dns |
| 75 | IRL 1157 | Ruigrok Alan | 369.0 86 69 (bfd) 80 80 54 |
| 78 | IRL 1086 | Niamh Lane | 371.0 77 (86) 58 84 86 66 |
| 80 | IRL 1063 | Scott Ryan | 376.0 85 (dns) 62 dnf 86 53 |
| 82 | IRL 1099 | Judge Aisling | 381.0 dne 73 (bfd) 83 83 52 |
Braassemermeer website : www.braassemermeer.nl/index_uk.html