Magic Marine Optimist open meeting at Hayling Island Sailing Club

With 156 entries signed up, this event promised to be one of the highlights of the Optimist racing calendar. The boats were divided into three, ability based, fleets.

A coached regatta fleet for those just starting out on their racing journey was a new experimental fleet this year and ended up being oversubscribed with more than 25 children on a waiting list.

Main Fleet: An Exciting Regatta at Bracklesham Bay

The main fleet boasted nearly 80 boats, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend of racing. As the event approached, it was clear that the wind and weather were going to deliver perfect conditions for competition.

Magic Marine Optimist open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Dave Dobrijevic / Capture the Stoke

Day One

Scheduled for four races in Bracklesham Bay, the fleet received their briefing and set sail. The first race showcased exceptional sailing in 10-15 knots of wind, with local rising star Charlie Holland catching up to claim the bullet. The second race went smoothly with a steady breeze, seeing Lymington's Hector Davies cross the finish line first.

Races three and four kept the race committee on their toes due to significant wind shifts. They managed to complete the third race, but had to abandon the fourth at the top mark when the breeze dropped and the increasing tide caused the fleet to park up.

Back ashore, Hayling Island Sailing Club (HISC) hosted a fantastic BBQ, and 10-year-old Jack Ward got the party started on the decks.

Day Two

With clear blue skies and a steady 10-15 knot breeze from the southwest, Jonny Rogers dominated the day, winning the first two races and finishing second behind Holland in the third. As time ticked on, the committee decided to go for a fourth race, which ended up being the best of the weekend as the breeze built from the northwest. Rogers, unfortunately, pulled the trigger a second too early on the black flag start, leaving the door open for Holland, who seized the opportunity and won the race, securing the regatta victory. This is an incredible achievement for the 11-year-old, proving he is definitely one to watch in the future.

Overall, it was a weekend filled with competitive racing and memorable moments, highlighting the talent and determination of young sailors like Charlie Holland.

Magic Marine Optimist open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Dave Dobrijevic / Capture the Stoke

Regatta Racing: Chichester Harbour

Nearly forty competitors took part in the Regatta Racing Fleet at The Magic Marine HISC Optimist Open Meeting, showcasing the skills of those not quite ready for main fleet sailing but close, competitive racing nether the less.

Day One

With a NW wind settling in the harbour the fleet set off bang on time and started the event in fantastic style. The wind and tide didn't quite play ball in a challenging first race but the pace was set by Theo Fox of Emsworth, Henry Finch of Royal Lymington and home HISC sailor, Felix Palmer-Ward.

Following a short delay due to a large wind shift to the West and a swift course move, races 2 & 3 got away. The top five were extremely close with Cara Lynch (HISC) and Charlotte Davis (Parkstone) each taking a second place against a strengthening tide mixing in with the front runners. Starts and upwind tactics were key!

Race 4 required another course move as the wind returned to the NW and the tide changed resulting in a bullet for Adam Gillow (CSC) who read the conditions perfectly.

Once the fleet had sailed back there was a chance to swim, chill and play at the club before the return of the Main Fleet before the In It To Win It Competition on the beach. A huge thank you to all the sponsors who provided a plethora of prizes.

Day Two

Following a short postponement ashore to allow more water to flood over Pilsey Sands the fleet set sail for four more races. A much more settled NW breeze with anything from 6-15 kts saw four great races take place.

The front five sailors of Theo Fox, Charlotte Davis, Felix Palmer-Ward, Henry Finch and Emily Tyrrell were all exchanging places, with Cameron Ritchie also posting two top three positions over the two days.

The final results had three U11 sailors leading the overall results - Theo, Charlotte & Felix. Probably more impressive was the fact that of the top fifteen, six were female and eight were U11, showing this is truly a level playing field and fleet for all.

A swift joint prize-giving with the Coached Regatta Fleet bought the event to its conclusion, with once again plenty of stash provided as prizes courtesy of our generous sponsors.

Magic Marine Optimist open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Dave Dobrijevic / Capture the Stoke

Coached Regatta fleet: Chichester Harbour

The welcome briefing to all coached regatta sailors and parents was from Lead Coach Melvyn Cooper on both mornings. Sailors were split into prepared groups with coaches Kuba Staite, Milly Boyle, Marcus Lynch and Will Fletcher.

They spent the morning ashore covering subjects such as starting procedure, flags and times, strategy to the windward mark, boat set up, windward and leeward mark rounding and essential basic rules.

Afloat, the morning exercises included slow boat speed control & stopping, broad reach to close-hauled on the whistle, upwind tacking and downwind gybing and daggerboard positions.

In the afternoon all coached regatta sailors took part in a weekend race series on West Mud over high water. Race Officer John Mckenna and ARO provided slick and no delay racing throughout the racing weekend. The coaching team supported the less experienced sailors around the race course.

Spotlight: Peter Tyrell from Hayling Island SC sailed a stunning series of consistent results. Peter remained alert taking full advantage of significant wind shifts upwind winning four races with his patient focus. Often sailing in the top 6 positions Peter found himself leading towards the end of races with his calm approach.

Lead Coach Melvyn Cooper said "It was a hugely enjoyable weekend of training and racing. The Coached Regatta programme provided a balance of learning new techniques together with some very competitive racing producing with lots of fun and new friendships. The coach team Kuba Staite, Milly Boyle, Marcus Lynch and Will Fletcher were on top form training the children both on and off the water. It's all about having fun and keeping our young sailors wanting more. I think we succeeded with the brief"

Parent Sarah Renard wrote "Thank you so very much to Melvyn Cooper and the team for all your amazing coaching. Clemmie had such a wonderful weekend. This weekend has made me realise how imperative it is to get children taking part in coached regatta to build their confidence before they start racing fully. It has been so beneficial to Clemmie."

Coach Milly Boyle added "I was so impressed with the children's progress and determination. The care and dedication from the coach team for the children and their sailing, really shows, it's what produces great sessions like these. The children had a really great time"

It is events like this that prove that the Optimist fleet has recovered well after Covid and is the best way to get your kids racing at whatever level they might be. The Optimist provides an incredible sailing journey for children from their first "boat on a rope" experience right through to the extensive international circuit that many of our top sailors enjoy. Always at the heart of it is having fun and making new friends, either at your club or from far away countries.

Hayling has become an epicentre for Optimist learning, racing, and training with over 60 boats regularly on the water backed by a dedicated and caring committee of keen parents.

We would like to say a huge thank you to our title Sponsor and club partner Magic Marine UK who gave a huge amount of support to the event, alongside other sponsors Xtremity, North Sails, Barracuda Bay, Sandy Point Chandlery, Savills and AR Design Studio.

Magic Marine Optimist open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Dave Dobrijevic / Capture the Stoke

Main Fleet Results:

Racing Regatta Results:

Coached Regatta Results:

Magic Marine Optimist open meeting at Hayling Island - photo © Dave Dobrijevic / Capture the Stoke