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| Final Results |
A truly international event took place at Howth Yacht Club from 18 to 21 August 2004. With over 180 entries from competing from IRL, GBR, NED, USA, & ZIM, the 2004 Musto Irish National & Open Optimist Championship & Open Regatta was a success for competitors, supporters and organisers alike.
After the strong winds of the first three days, day 4 looked like it would be an ideal sailing day with F3 winds. Unfortunately this was not to be the case. Soon after the main fleet launched, the wind died off and the PRO was unable to hold even one more race in the championships.
The final results were those of 20th August after race 7, so the PRO had achieved 7 out of 12 scheduled races and one discard was included.
The results on day 3 had to be recalculated to even up the possible unfairness due to the fact that only a single flight was run for the 3 races. By halving the results for races 5, 6 & 7, the provisional results changed a little.
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| Open Regatta Event |
The Netherlands had a conclusive victory in the Open Regatta category.
Gijs Pelt and Rolph Oudshoorn were conclusively placed first and second with a demonstration of Optimist sailing for all to admire.
Katie Tingle (RCYC) had a superb regatta, particularly given the strong wind and severe sea conditions. Katie hiked out like nobody else and returned consistent results throughout the regatta placing her third in the Open category.
From across the Irish sea, GBR sailors Tom Hayes and Oliver White turned in steady performances to end up in 4th & 5th places.
The US guest sailor, Emily Lambert sailed well and was placed 7th after the seven races.
Former Irish top-gun, Conor O'Brien (LDYC/ HYC) surprised many by finishing 8th overall, probably a result of such heavy conditions. In 9th place was Alyson Rumball (RSYC/ HYC/ RIYC) who sailed a fine series. Andrew Normand (GBR) was 10th.
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| Irish National Championships |
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The 2004 Irish National Optimist Champion is Katie Tingle (RCYC). Conor O'Brien (LDYC/ HYC) and Alyson Rumball (RSGYC/ HYC/ RIYC) were 2nd and 3rd respectively showing that Optimist sailing is a sport for both genders on an equal footing.
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IODAI Gold/Silver/Bronze Fleets
Final Results
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| IODAI Gold Fleet |
| 1 | Katie Tingle | (RCYC) |
| 2 | Conor O'Brien | (LDYC / HYC) |
| 3 | Alyson Rumball | (RSGYC/ HYC/ RIYC) |
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| IODAI Silver Fleet |
| 1 | Peter Mulvin | (NYC) |
| 2 | Patrick Dix | (HYC) |
| 3 | Ryan Scott | (HYC) |
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| IODAI Bronze Fleet |
| 1 | Stephen Kiely | (RCYC) |
| 2 | Gareth O'Connor | (RIYC) |
| 3 | Barra Collins | (SSC) |
| The Regatta Fleet Event |
The forty younger or less experienced sailors who entered the regatta fleet should each get a medal for patience. Under IODAI appointed coach Tristan McMillan, and his team of seven ISA qualified sailing instructors from HYC, the 40 members of the Regatta fleet received a combination of race coaching and nautical based games with the balance towards the letter.
With a stormy blowout on Friday and so little wind on Saturday, it was a miracle that PRO, Kevin Darmody, got even one race in on Saturday morning. Albeit over a very short course, the regatta fleet did get a result by having that one race with victory going to John Willoughby (WHSC) followed in 2nd by Aisling Byrne-Ryan (NYC) and Patrick Daly in 3rd.
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| Final synopsis of the event |
The visiting sailors from the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA all had good comments about the Oppy Nationals in Howth. The open championships and overall winner, John WilloughbyGijs Pelt (NED) told his Irish host that he was pleasently surprised at how mannerly the Irish sailors were to him on and off the water. In one race he was fouled by an Irish sailor, who when he realised his transgression, immediately did a 720 and apologised to Gijs for fouling him.
The British coach, Ollie Green was delighted that his development squad was exposed to strong open sea sailing conditions, as there doesn't tend to be similar opportunities for major Optimist events in the UK. GBR Team Leader, Richard Thomas thanked HYC and IODAI for accommodating his squad and proposed that the two associations consider some sailor exchanges at coaching camps in both countries in the coming year.
The prize giving was a long affair due to the extensive list of winners in a multitude of categories.
Official photographer, Graham Gosling has a large gallery of action pictures from the event on his web-site www.grahamgosling.com.
Kevin Darmody
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Andrew Knowles
Event Chairman
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HYC Commodore
Derek Bothwell PRO
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Behind the big names in these events there is an army of sea and shore support staff.
With my role in results support and the website, including photo taking for the site, I am a bit remote from
the more general event support activity, so I'm not sure who all the support people are.
However, one cant help but notice the constant activity of the Beachmaster and Race Office as I to and fro,
so I took a few pics to remind you of them.
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Derek George and his assistant Dermot Mowatt brought tranquility and quite efficiency to the launching and
retrieving operations ashore.
With 150 plus boats milling around this could very easily become chaotic if
it were not for their effort throughout each day.
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(L) Beachmaster Derek George
(R) Assistant Dermot Mowatt
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Alice Kissane, Frances Marr and Susan McSweeney manned the Race Office throughout the event. Unfortunately, I
couldn't find Susan McSweeney when I was taking the pic.
There is a steady stream of queries and requests each day and their support helps to minimise frustration and
time wasted in addressing the range of matters which arise during an event like this.
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Race Office
(L) Frances Marr
(R) Alice Kissane
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From my own perspective, many thanks to Pam O'Brien who calculated the results using the IODAI programme, which is
specifically tailored for the racing format used and of course to Kevin Darmody who fed me with reports for the website each day.
I could go on naming people and giving credit at some length, but as I said at the outset - I dont know who they all are. No doubt many of them are already involved with the preparations for the next event at this stage.
John
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| Pictures |
Top 10 Overall >>
Prize Giving >>
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These are my pics. Graham Gosling has a much more comprehensive collection,
including on the water pics. See notice below.
John
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| Results |
We are not using our HYC results facility for this event, so
results are not displayed in the main Results section of the site.
The programme used instead provides the results, which are accessed by clicking
the links below.
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Results 18th August
Results 19th August
Results 20th August
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Racing on the 21st was cancelled due to lack of wind, so the results on the 20th are the final
results, with a few small changes.
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| HYC Members' Performance |
Click below for HYC Members' Performance in the Main Fleet.
Performance Table >>
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Event Photographer
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Graham Gosling is the Official Photographer for the event. Click below for details
and form for specific photo requests.
Details & Form (Word)
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Optimist Nationals
Organising Committee |
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Chairman Andrew Knowles
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Chairman IODAI /
Onshore Racing Activities Richard Kissane
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Principal Race Officer Derek Bothwell
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Race Office Manager Alice Kissane
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On the Water Support Kevin Darmody
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Beachmaster Derek George
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MC & PR Kevin Burke
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Treasurer Robert Dix
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Chairman Jury Niall Colfer
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Catering Caroline Burke
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