News WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2012
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2012
Yukie Yokoyama from Singapore wins Optimist Worlds
Yukie Yokoyama from Singapore wins Optimist Worlds
Member blogs: USA | GBR | SIN | NZL | FIN | MEX | SLO | ARG | NOR | SWE | FRA
July 25
After leading for most of the championship, Yukie Yokoyama won the title today of Optimist World Champion, ahead of her team mate Samuel Neo Jiun Jie. After yesterdays results they were separated by just one point and today they were sailing in different divisions so they both knew that they needed to win each race to have a chance of becoming champion. Despite this pressure, neither of them faultered, both scoring two first places, enough for Yukie to become champion and Samuel to take silver.
Jessica Goh (Singapore) finished in third place and Bart Lambriex (Netherlands) had a good racing day and moved up to fourth place leaving Jiayi Loh (Singapore) in fifth.
Yukie Yokoyama Optimist World Champion 2012 © Matias Capizzano
Congratulations to Jukie, she sailed a fantastic regatta with a nett score of just 10 points after nine races. Tonight there will be much celebrating at the prize giving and closing ceremony where the IODA flag will be handed over to Italy, the venue for the 2013 Worlds.
July 24
What a change a day can make - two great races for all divisions and with seven races completed, the discard has now come into effect.
Yukie Yokoyama © Matias Capizzano
Tomorrow is the final day and the Singapore dominance continues with Jiayi Loh moving ahead of Bart Lambriex (Belgium) so that Singapore sailors have the top four places.
The Optimist Worlds in 2010 (Noppakao Poonpat, Thailand) and 2011 (Kimberly Lim, Singapore), were both won by girls and Yukie Yokoyama may now make it three World Championships in a row. She still has to finish ahead of her team mate, Samuel Neo Jiun Jie, who is only one point behind.
We hope for more good winds again tomorrow to bring the championship to a thrilling conclusion.
July 23
Everyone went out today refreshed after what had been a day off for some and still tinged with excitement for others after the team racing. This should have been a rest day for all but due to the number of races currently completed, the organisers decided to use the day for fleet racing.
The plan was to complete the outstanding two divisions of race 5 and then run races 6 and 7 which would permit the discard to kick in. Unfortunately this was not to be.......... the wind was shifty and the marks, which are laid in 250m of water, began to drag. The two missing division races from race 5 were completed but nothing more. Many sailors endured 7 hours on the water without racing - not something that they had expected as they launched that morning. It was a difficult and disappointing day for all.
There are now just 2 more racing days to go and tension is rising as sailors hope for the sixth race discard and the organisers try to achieve as many races as they can (usually there are only 2 races each day but it may be that they try for three if conditions are suitable).
Jessica Goh © Matias Capizzano
Singapore continue to dominate and curently hold the three top positions, but Bart Lambriex (BEL) will be hoping for another top ten finishing place to try and challenge Jessica Goh Kai Ling who is currently in third place. The battle between team mates in second ( Samuel Neo Jiun Jie) and first (Yukie Yokoyama) is no less intense but Yukie with no result so far worse than second, looks to be the favourite. Let's hope for steady winds today.
July 22 Team Racing
July 21 Team Racing
Results of day one qualifying stage
42 teams today began their journey to become Optimist World Team Racing Champions. The format during the day would reduce the teams to just 24 who would go forward to the finals tomorrow.
Team Sweden © Matias Capizzano
By the end of the day the finalists had been decided. Singapore were seeded number one and showed great form to hold the first seed position going into the final day. They are followed in seeding order by - USA, Spain, Peru, Thailand, Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Turkey, Brazil, Croatia, Italy, Finland and Germany.
The team racing championship weill be decided tomorrow.
July 20
Despite an earlier start in an effort to make up races lost due to storms over the last couple of days, once again the unsettled stormy conditions, resulted in only one more race completed for all 4 divisions.
The sailors from Singapore continue to dominate, taking the first three places on the leader board. Chasing them was Max Clapp (GBR), who moved up to fourth place overall with a win in the green division.
Max Clapp GBR leading the fleet down the run © Matias Capizzano
Tomorrow will be the start of the World Optimist Team Racing Championship which will be held on the shallow waters of the lagoon just in front of the club. Singapore, the current World Champions will hope to dominate again but this will not be easy as they are likely to be challenged by several strong teams, particularly from South America.
Day 4 report ©IcarusSailingMedia
July 19
Day 3 report ©IcarusSailingMedia
July 18
No races today due to ...........
© Matias Capizzano
July 17
Today was the first racing day and the weather was perfect for sailing - 8-10 knots, warm and sunny, stable breeze. The race committee delivered two races and Yokoyamaelisa Yukie (SIN) holds the lead following a second in Race 1 and a first in Race 2. Compatriot Juin Jie Neo Samuel sits in second place on 4 points. With the fleet split into four further race wins on the opening day went to Romain Screve (USA), Paula Igual Garcia (ESP), Sven Stevanovic (CRO) and Jessica Kai Ling Goh (SIN).
Day 1 report ©IcarusSailingMedia
Racing continues for the competitors tomorrow.
July 16
The opening ceremony was held amid the palm trees on the beach in front of the clubhouse. Speaches of welcome were given by many, including Joaquin Pacheco (Event Director), Danilo Troncoso (Commodore of the Club Nautico Santo Domingo) and Paula Varona. Paula, just 14 years old, learnt to sail in the club optimist program run from the club sailing school and is a member of the team representing Dominican Republic. Her speach of welcome to the sailors was well received.
© Matias Capizzano
© Matias Capizzano
July 16
The practice race was held today in steady winds of 12 knots from the South, on a wavy sea beneath a shiny blue sky. These seem to be the average sailing conditions and it is expected that sailors (and the Race Committee) will enjoy a championship without postponements or abandonment due to bad weather.
Most of the teams have gone through measurement and the final list of competitors and the allocation to fleets for the first day of races has been published. View it here. Tracking will be offered since the first official race tomorrow. Follow the races here.
The first official race will be sailed on July 17. You will be able to follow all of the races live via the tracking viewers, on our tracking page. Bookmark the link below!
http://www.optiworld.org/MiniSite/12Worlds/index.php
You'll find links to results, entries and relevant documentation on the same page.
More links to follow the championship:
IODA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/optiworld
Organisers website: http://www.optiworlds2012.org/
July 13
Sunday the 15th will be the official arrival day of the Worlds 2012 in Dominican Republic, 50 years after the organisation of the first World Championship ever. For this edition there are 230 sailors from 52 countries representing the 5 continents.
Two days before, Boca Chica -the host city- and the Club Nautico Santo Domingo, are already crowded with Opti sailors, volunteers, officials, organisers and supporters. Most of the teams are already there, many are travelling and some are yet about to leave home, but the organisers seem ready for the challenge!!
The first official race will be sailed on July 17. You will be able to follow all of the races live via the tracking viewers, on our tracking page. Bookmark the link below!
http://www.optiworld.org/MiniSite/12Worlds/index.php
You'll find links to results, entries and relevant documentation on the same page.