August 1, 2013 at 5:33 p.m.
Bermuda’s sailing team used the Italian Open Bic Nationals as a warm up for the Open Bic World Championships, which will take place next week.
The Bermuda team performed well in the windy conditions, sailing seven races over three days on Lake Garda in Italy. Peter Dill came in fifth overall in the Under-16 field of 47 sailors.
Ceci Wollmann was the top girl finisher, finishing ninth overall, with brother Mikey Wollmann coming in tenth. Sammy Dill finished 23rd, Blair Blakeney came 39th,Aglae Perrin came 40th, and Brandon Adam came 41st for Bermuda.
It has been a busy past few weeks for the sailors, who competed in the Optimist World Championship from July 15 to 26 at Lake Garda. Despite less than stellar wind conditions, the Bermuda team performed admirably against some of the top young Optimist sailors in the world.
Chase Cooper came 111th overall in a field of 256, followed closely by 12-year-old Campbell Patton—the youngest Bermudian sailor sailing in his first World Championship—who came in 113th. Mikey Wollmann and his sister Ceci Wollmann finished 120th and 123th, respectively, and Benn Smith rounded out Bermuda’s sailors, coming in 130th.
BODA’s High Performance Coach Martin Jenkins said in a press release: “I was encouraged by some of the top Bermuda finishes during the Championships but I really wish that Lake Garda had delivered the steady 16-20 knots it is famous for.
“The difference in wind conditions from flight to flight on most race days made it very difficult for some of the sailors. While I know some hoped to end higher in the standings, the entire Bermuda team finished in the top half against the world’s best Optimist sailors and should be very proud.”
The Open Bic World Cup, which runs from August 1 to 5 at the Fraglia Vela Riva in Italy and features over 200 sailors from around the world.
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