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13_Yachtsman 2015.qxp_Yachtsman Magazine 19/08/2015 4:31 pm Page 42

Centreboard
Opti Report
By Karen Taylor

Two of our Green Fleet, Isabella Holdsworth and Kye Williams enjoying their first Icebreaker

Immediately following Queensland Youth Week, after a lay day spent at Dreamworld,
The RPAYC centreboard division has been very active over the last few months with was Sail Brisbane which a few of our RPAYC juniors stayed up north for and it proved
very worthwhile, with Angus and Fin Crafter on the podium in 2nd and 3rd respectively
many boats participating at all levels of competition.
in the Optimist Intermediates, and Olivia Williams snapping at their heels
The Club’s Icebreaker series has been incredibly successful so far, with an excess of in 4th place.
80 boats competing from all classes. It is fantastic seeing our sailors of all ages and
abilities getting out there on the water and having a go. Our newest sailors, the It was clear that our Junior Sailors got a lot out of heading to Queensland judging
Green fleet Optis went out in Icebreaker Series Two, thinking they were heading out by what they had to say:
for a regular Sunday training session and found themselves competing! A great time Morgan Wells (Opti open fleet) “I loved hanging out with the RPA team and it is a
was had by all judging by their smiling faces.
great venue for dinghy sailing.”
The first Portuguese Beach Picnic event for the year was well supported by a large Daniel Links (Opti Open Fleet) “There were all the top guys at this regatta and I learnt
contingent of centreboard members and it was difficult working out who had a heaps. Also going to Dreamworld with all the RPA guys was so much fun.”
better time, the kids or the dads who competed in the annual Driftwood Cup which
Bayley Taylor (doing her first big regatta in Opti Intermediates) “Racing was challenging
was won by David Williams.
but I did better than I expected. Dreamworld was awesome and I liked the
Recently our Optis took part in the East Coast Championships at held at Middle Pandamonuim ride the best.”
Harbour with several of our Open and Intermediate Fleet doing well.
Finn and Angus Crafter (Opti Intermediate Fleet)”There was a big fleet to race with
East Coast regatta at Middle Harbour
and it was great. The best ride at Dreamworld was the Giant Drop. It was really scary.”
Our junior Centreboard Sailors have just wrapped up QLD Youth week held at Royal
Charley Wells (one of our top girl sailors) “It was really good to sail in a 40 boat fleet
Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly Brisbane, where we have performed extremely
and I learnt plenty about tough starts. It made all our training worthwhile.”
well. More than 300 boats competed in a variety of classes out on the waters of
Waterloo Bay with approx 29 young sailors from RPAYC travelling from Sydney to Logan Cortis (doing his first big regatta in a laser4.7) “this regatta has awesome
competition and I was really happy with my results as it was my first go at lasers.”
Brisbane for the event.

Optis at the East Coast Championships photo Karen Taylor

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The
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Alfreds Yachtsman
Yachtsman

The kids having an egg throwing competition