‘Young sailors have awesome responsibility’

Bermuda’s top young sailors are putting the finishing touches to their preparations ahead of the  IODA North American Championships (Optinam) on home waters next week.

It’s first time the island has held the prestigious event since 2002 — when home sailor Jesse Kirkland claimed overall victory — and stakes are high among the fleet.

A total of 180 competitors from 19 countries will battle it out in the under-16 competition on the Great Sound, with many of the 20 representing Bermuda in action today in the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club’s Digicel Summer Series. 

Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association President Anthony Bailey described the Optinam event as a huge chance for the youngsters.

He told the Bermuda Sun: “This is a very big opportunity for the local sailors. It was 2002 since we last held a North American Championship in Bermuda — they don’t come around that often.

“It is an awesome responsibility for our young sailors to be participating in this event because they are not only representing their clubs but they are also representing Bermuda as a whole.”

The team are led by familiar names in the youth sailing scene, with the likes of Chase Cooper, Ceci and Mikey Wollmann, Benn Smith, Campbell Patton and Peter Dill having extensive experience despite their tender  age. However, there are also a number of young up-and-coming sailors who are using this as a stepping stone in their career. Micah Thomas-Raynor, Felix Cutler, Matilda Nicholls and Tayte Stefaniuk are just a few to look out for.

For Thomas-Raynor, it represents remarkable progress after taking up the sport just a year ago.

Bailey said: “Micah is new to sailing — he’s doing well, he listens, he’s really geared up to sailing in this event and we’re excited to see him out there. 

“The expectation isn’t as great for the newer, younger sailors. 

“We want them to gain the experience and we are going to make sure they know that ‘by the way, if you’re not at the top of the fleet, don’t worry about it’. We want them to gain the experience so the next time they compete they will be ready.

“It’s a great achievement for Micah to qualify. He has a lot of potential.”

He added: “Chase has done well, and Ceci has a good opportunity to place well in the girls.

“Having a look at the girls who are attending, none have really placed as well in other IODA events so she has a good opportunity to stand on the podium.

“Benn Smith is a strong sailor, Campbell Patton, a young up and coming oner, he has done well overseas in other regattas, Peter Dill is 15, and we’re hoping he will do well as this is his last regatta in the age bracket.”

20 reasons to cheer on Bermuda

The top 20 young sailors in the country will take to home waters next week to compete in the IODA North American Championships (Optinam).

They need your support when the racing gets under way, so here’s the lowdown on the youngsters who will be flying the Bermuda flag in the prestigious sailing event.

Joe Arrowsmith (11), BER1084

RHADC, Warwick Academy

Experience: Bermuda National Championships 2010, 2011, 2012; RenRe Junior Gold Cup 2010, 2011, 2012; Scotia Bank Regatta 2012; Orange Bowl 2012.

George Buckley (12), BER1009

RBYC, Saltus

Experience: Canadian Nationals 2011, 2012; New England Championships 2012; Orange Bowl 2012; RenRe Junior Gold Cup 2011, 2012.

Camille Chin-Gurret (13), BER1226

RBYC, Bda High School

Experience: Bermuda Gold Cup 2011, 2012. Canadian Nationals 2011, UK Optimist Nationals 2012. 

Chase Cooper (14), BER1037

RBYC, Warwick Academy

IODA Worlds 2010; 2012, 2013, IODA South Americans 2011, 2012, 2013;  IODA North Americans 2011, 2012; Semana de Mar del Plata 2013.

Felix Cutler (11), BER1234

RBYC, Home Schooled

Peter Dill (14), BER1316

RHADC, Somersfield Academy

Experience: Canadian Nationals 2011; ScotiaBank 2012; Worlds 2012, Orange Bowl 2012; Mar Del Plata 2013; South Americans 2013.

Sammy Dill (14), BER1019

RHADC, Somersfield Academy

Experience: Scotiabank 2012; RenRe Jr. Gold Cup 2012; Orange Bowl 2012.

Jordan Etemadi (10), BER1939

RBYC, Somersfield Academy

Experience: Bermuda Nationals 2012; RenRe Junior Gold Cup 2012;   Bermuda Green Fleet Nationals 2011.

Yannick Hillier (12), BER1017

RBYC, Saltus

Experience: RenRe Jr Gold Cup 2011, 2012; East Zone Squad in the UK 2013; UK Spring Champs 2013; Lake Garda Optimist Championship 2013.

Tre’ L. Maxwell (14), BER1097

RBYC, Berkeley Institute

Experience: RenRe Junior Gold Cup 2011, 2012; Orange Bowl Regatta 2012.

Matilda Nicholls (11), BER1111

RBYC, Bda High School

Experience: Orange Bowl 2011, 2012; Canadian Nationals 2011; UK Nationals 2010, 2011, 2012; Lake Garda Regatta 2011, 2012; RenRe Jr. Gold Cup 2011, 2012; BER Nationals 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.

Campbell Patton (12), BER1008

RBYC, Warwick Academy

Experience: IODA Worlds  2013; CORK 2011, 2012;  Canadian Nationals 2011, 2012; Ren Re  Gold Cup  2011, 2012; Bermuda Nationals  2011, 2012; Lake Garda Meeting 2012, 2013; IODA Worlds 2013.

Adriana Penruddocke (12), BER1088

RBYC, Saltus

Experience: Bermuda National Championship 2012, 2011; Junior Gold Cup 2012, 2011, Swiss National Championship 2012; Lake Garda Optimist meeting 2013; Team Race sailing competition at Sarasota Sailing Squadron 2012.

Thomas Penruddocke (14), BER1040

RBYC, Saltus

Experience: Bermuda National Championship 2012, 2011, 2010; Junior Gold Cup 2012, 2011; Swiss National Championship 2011, 2012; Lake Garda Optimist meeting 2013; Sarasota Sailing Squadron 2012 Team Race.

Alice Reeves (14), BER1050

RBYC, Bermuda High School

Experience: Bermuda Nationals, Canadian Nationals, British Nationals, RenRe Jr Gold Cup.

Benn Smith (14), BER1324

RBYC, Saltus

Experience: IODA Worlds 2013; IODA South American Championships 2012, 2013; Canadian Nationals 2011; ScotiaBank 2012;  New England Optimist Championships 2012;  Orange Bowl 2012;  RenRe Junior Gold Cup, 2010 – 2012; Bermuda National Champion 2012; Mar del Plata Regatta 2013; Sunfish Junior North Americans 2011; Sunfish North Americans 2012.

Tayte Stefaniuk (11), BER1121

RBYC, Warwick Academy

Experience: Orange Bowl 2012.  Bermuda Nationals 2012.  Jr. Gold Cup 2012

Micah Thomas Raynor (11), BER1001

RBYC, Dellwood Middle School

Experience: Orange Bowl Regatta 2012; Bermuda Nationals 2012.

Ceci Wollmann (15), BER1029

RHADC, Saltus

Experience: IODA World Championships 2010;  2011, 2013; IODA North American Championships 2010, 2013; IODA South American Championships.  2009, 2010, 2012, 2013;  US Nationals. Canadian Nationals 2008 - 2012;   CORK 2010 - 2012; New England Championships 2012; Scotiabank Regatta 2012; Orange Bowl 2008,2009, 2012; O’pen Bic Worlds 2012, 2013.

Mikey Wolmann (13), BER1101

RHADC, Saltus

Experience: IODA Worlds 2013; IODA North American Championships 2010, 2013;  IODA South American Championships 2010, 2012, 2013; Canadian Nationals 2008 - 2012 (Champion);  CORK 2010 - 2012; New England Championships 2009, 2012; Scotiabank Regatta 2012; US Nationals 2008 - 2012; Orange Bowl 2008 – 2012; O’pen Bic Worlds 2012, 2013.