Walshe wins Optimist Girls US Nationals

Pensacola, FL (July 19, 2018) – The 2018 Optimist Girls US National Championship was won today by Samara Walshe of New York who lead all sailors with 9 points (2,2,5). Sara Schumann of Ft Lauderdale was second with 14 points (1,11,2) and Emory Friend of New Orleans grabbed 3rd with 21 points (4,4,13).

Samara talked about racing one race in the northerly breeze and how the seas breeze filled in from the south for two races. She was in the top ten in all three races. “My coaches told me the game plan; but if something changed or shifted, I would adjust. I’m responsible for the tactics. I always want to come into the mark roundings on starboard tack with the advantage and come in fast. The second race was my favorite. Just sticking to the game plan.”

Sailing was complicated today. Sixty-seven girls set off at 10am following the signal vessel Maxine, looking for wind in the southernmost part of Pensacola Bay. The committee got off one race by shortening the course to finish at the downwind gate. After a wait till 2pm, the committee set a course into the sea breeze at 210 degrees and fired off race two. But there was a general recall.

In the next try to start there was a black flag and another general recall. Some 20 girls were dismissed from that race. The start area was set in some of the deepest part of the bay so the current was strong, flowing south out into the Gulf of Mexico. ‘Maxine’ was setting parallel to the starting line.

Race three also started under a black flag and many girls were over early. The committee signaled a general recall and it appeared another twenty-something group of girls would sit out that race. However, one of the coaches pointed out that the pin boat had dragged its anchor and that was the cause of the early starter’s infraction. Facing a request for redress, the RC abandoned that race and moved on to a new Race Four with a full 67-girl fleet.

Girls National Championship Principal Race Officer and PYC’s fleet Captain Hal Smith said, “Abandoning that race in which so many girls would have been disqualified was the equitable thing to do. The pin dragged and racing wasn’t going to be fair.”

Racing continues tomorrow with the 24-team 2018 Optimist Team Race National Championship running through Sunday, July 22.

Racing in the four-day Optimist US Nationals was held July 15-18. The 2018 Optimist Girls National Championship was sailed Thursday July 19 and the 2018 Optimist Team Race National Championship will run on July 20-22.

Event details – Results – Facebook

Source: Pensacola Yacht Club