2013 Optimist North American Championship

Published on July 7th, 2013

Hamilton, Bermuda (July 7, 2013) – After two days of fleet racing and six races at the 2013 Optimist North American Championship, Argentina’s Dante Cittadini holds the top spot over the USA’s Shawn Harvey. Ripley Shelley also from the USA sits in third place followed by Singapore’s Samuel Neo. Martina Pisani from Argentina rounds out the top five and is the leading female. Bermuda holds the 6th and 7th positions with Chase Cooper and Ceci Wollmann (2nd female) followed by Angasar Jordan from the USA. Luiza Cruz from Brazil is next in 9th place and the USA’s Luke Arnone is 10th.

USA 2 (Shawn Harvey, Matt Logue, Ryan Hennessey, Louisa Nordstrom and Eduardo Mintzias) won the North American (NA) Team Racing championship defeating U.S. Virgin Island Team 3-2 in the final on Sunday while Singapore (Samuel Neo, Shyn Ee Phua, Jodie Lai, Isaac Tang, Serzen Gurung) defeated Argentina for the Nations Cup trophy (non NA countries). 22 races were completed on the NA course while xx races were sailed on the Nations Cup course. The team racing was staged on two short courses in Hamilton Harbour

Sailors will enjoy a well deserved day off on Monday and fleet racing will continue on the Great Sound on Tuesday, finishing on Wednesday.

The 2013 International Optimist Dinghy Association North American Championship is at the half way mark with two days of fleet racing completed along with a completed day of team racing. 176 competitors from 19 nations have descended upon the tiny island from as far away as Japan and New Zealand. The competitors, coaches and team officials have enjoyed picture perfect “Bermuda-ful” weather and winds out of the north from 8 – 16 knots.

Organizers, the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) and hosts, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC), kicked off the 39th running of the event with a parade of sail prior to the practice race. Teams sailed past the RBYC Commodore, the Deputy Governor, the US Consul General, the Minister for Tourism, and other local dignitaries on the corner of the RBYC marina.

Later that evening the sailors paraded the streets of Hamilton from Albouy’s Point to Queen Elizabeth Park, led by the Bermuda Sea Cadets and the Bermuda Regiment Band. Local officials the Governor, His Excellency the Hon. George Ferguson, and other local dignitaries welcomed the competitors and wished them “smooth sailing”. Optinam, as it is commonly called, was declared officially “open” by Quino Nigaglioni, IODA Vice President from Puerto Rico and the large crowd was entertained by Bermuda’s famous Gombey dancers.

Principal sponsors for the event are the Bermuda Department of Tourism, the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, Tokio Millenium Re. Host sponsors for the event are the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and the City of Hamilton.

Event photos at www.optiphoto.com

Full results at http://amneweb.com/Results060713-v3.htm

Website: www.optinam2013.org

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OptinamBermuda2013

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