Fishing Bay Yacht Club Defends Youth Title

The South Carolina Yacht Club hosted the second annual Optimist Pram Team Invitational, held November 12-13 on Hilton Head Island, SC.

The 2016 edition went off without a hitch as six teams from Canada and USA were treated to 10-20 knots of breeze and up to 3 knots of current (something race venues on the coast of South Carolina are known for), making for the ultimate “playground” for these experienced Opti Race Teams.

Fishing Bay Yacht Club sailors, accompanied by coach Bobby Lippincott (Easton, MD), defended their title as champions with a dominating performance to take home the Paul Miller Memorial trophy for another year. Report by Marc Newman (South Carolina Yacht Club)…

Race Day 1 Report:
The first day of racing saw 10 to 20 mph winds from the north northwest all the teams were dressed like it was winter even though we are in South Carolina. Racing started on time and they were able to get 21 races in to complete one full round Robin and a half round Robin.

Fishing Bay yacht club holds a commanding lead it was six points after seven races only one blemish on the record. There are three teams tied for second with four points each South Carolina yacht club, Florida yacht club, and Royal Canadian Yacht Club of Toronto.

Second day of racing looks to be 10 knots out of the north with tide at least 2 1/2 maybe three knots just like yesterday confusing some of the lake sailors but helping the locals as well as the team from fishing bay.

Race Day 2 Report:
A great day of racing gave spectators some of the best team racing in 10 knots of breeze, 3 knots of current, and small cruise ship traffic just to make things more interesting.

The first race of the day saw power house Fishing Bay YC and home team South Carolina Yacht Club dual it out. A 10 minute mark trap between FBYCs Guthrie Braun and SCYCs Matthew Monts was an epic battle of tide, skill, and knowledge of the rules. Each sailor controlled a mark trap and lost it to a competitor when the tide swept them out of the zone. SCYC was able to round 1, 2 but the race was called before the finish as the course needed to be moved due to flighty breeze at the top.

The restart went all Fishing Bays way. That left it up to Florida YC to try to out sail FBYC.

The SCYC squad had to beat the Royal Canadian Yacht Club Team to stay in the hunt. This race saw 9 pass backs and pass throughs, 4 penalty turns and the fishing Bay – Florida race starting behind them finish ahead of 4 of the boats. SCYC finished 1, 3, 6 when Thomas Mazzeo was able to luff up getting a penalty called allowing SCYC to win.

The finals came down to Florida YC and FBYC. Each one winning the knockout rounds. FBYC was just too much and sailed to victory defending the Paul Miller trophy and again taking it back to Deltaville Virginia.

Final Results
1. Fishing Bay Yacht Club (Deltaville, VA)
2. Florida Yacht Club (Jacksonville, FL)
3. South Carolina Yacht Club (Hilton Head Island, SC)
4. Royal Canadian Yacht Club (Toronto, ONT)
5. Edgewater Yacht Club (Cleveland, OH)
6. Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron (Halifax, NS)

Competitors attending the 2016 Optimist Pram Team Invitational received three complimentary hotel rooms per team courtesy of the Sonesta Resort and Spa on Hilton Head Island, as well as meals provided by the South Carolina Yacht Club and Local Pie, a true local dining experience on the island. The event’s Presenting Sponsor, Zim Sailing, provided a fleet of 18 identical boats.

Event details – Scoreboard