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News of Kinsale Optimist Sailors in Naples - Updated with final day report
Ten Kinsale YC Optimist sailors are currently competing for the 16th ' Trofeo Campobasso' at Royal Savoia YC Naples. The event is very well attended by top teams from 18 countries. Kinsale sailors arrived on 2nd Jan to allow for one day of training on the water with their local coach Danillo De Felice who was stepping in for his brother Ricardo who was busy coaching Irish 420 sailors back home in Baltimore. On the morning of the event all 196 sailors were split into 4 flights which allowed for a start line of 90+ sailors. The first day of the event was sailed in 5-7 knots of wind with Colm O Regan and Aodh Kennedy getting off to a great start knocking in a 5th & 8th between them. Most of the sailors had a good day with some very good individual results from the younger sailors in this their first full international event. Day two was a difficult day for the race management chasing the light zephyrs around the Bay of Naples. However they did manage to get one race in. Sorcha O' Sullivan in her first overseas event was the star of the day knocking in a very impressive 22 in this highly competitive event. Going into day three best of the Kinsale team is Aodh in 7th but hopefully some of the others can drop some of the OCS's picked up over the first two days. Roll on day three. More news when available!!
Final Race Day At Trofeo Campobasso Sailors arrived at their usual pre arranged briefing time of 8.00am for the final days racing. Aodh was hoping to improve on his 8th overall while Colm was screaming for another race to discard his OCS and try and finish in the top ten. At the briefing there was not much hope for wind but Danilo kept the sailors focused on the fact that there would be racing. On the course all the sailors paired up as usual for their pre race split tacks. Sean and Conor reported each side of the course was equal while Amy & Cliodhna fancied the left side. The first fleet got away in 5kn with three French sailors port tacking the fleet from the pin. At the top mark it wasn’t looking good with only Darragh O’Sullivan in the top 20. For the second start, after seeing the French get away, Colm and Dara headed for the pin. A good start was secured however pressure started filling from the right hand side of the course. At the top mark there was a lot to do as the sailors on the right poured in. Coming up the last beat Daire Cournane, after a poor start, pulled back 30 places to secure a mid fleet finish. One race was the order of the day as the wind faded and the sailors went ashore. At the prize giving ceremony Aodh Kennedy was presented with a lovely silver cup for the best of the furthest travelled sailors. The event was won by Vadnai Benjamin from Hungary with 2nd and 3rd places being filled from Spain. This shows the level of competition at the event as Massimo said all the top Italian sailors were competing. Our two most expeirienced sailors Aodh and Colm ended in very respectable final positions of 20 and 32 while next sailor was our young and rising star Daire Cournane in 82nd. Following Daire was ISA squad member Conor Murphy in 88 followed by Cliodhna O Regan in 118. The next best of 'Team Oppy Kinsale’ was Amy Clarke in 133, Darragh O Sullivan 141, Sorcha O’Sullivan (First overseas event) 152, Sean Ross 156 and Dara O Shea 173 both carrying OCS's. As I write this report, with my helper Ronan Cournane, the team are gone to Pompei with tour guide Tony Cournane and the mammys are busy packing the gear for the coach journey back to Rome. Overall this was a fantastic event with great hospitality from the host club, great racing, and a fantastic city to visit. Roll on 2010. Finbarr O Regan. |
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