RHADC O’pen a big success

The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club are still basking in the success of the O’pen BIC North American Championships.

Thirty-two sailors travelled from as far as Hawai’i and France to join the fun and enjoy the amazing Bermudian hospitality.

Twenty races and an epic freestyle expression session were held in ideal conditions ranging from 6 to 20 knots.

The racing was tight with a mixture of “conventional” and “Un-Regatta style” courses, sometimes with required freestyle moves, capsizes, stand-up sailing, and 360s. 

Going into the event it was unknown which sailors would prevail, but regardless of the course requirements, the top sailors always came out on top.

By the end it was clear the Bermudians were the class in the O’pen age group while the Hawaiians cleaned up in the Under-13 category.

Mikey Wollmann came from behind in the last race to narrowly take out reigning Opti and Byte North American Champion (and big sister) Ceci Wollmann by one point. 

Lars Von Sydow (Hawai’i Kai Boat Club) rounded out the podium by narrowly pulling ahead of Peter Dill and Joe Arrowsmith from RHADC. 

Andre Stowasser, representing the French Sailing Federation, rounded out the top sailors overall. Kanoa Pick edged out fellow Hawaiians, JP Lattanzi and Marcos Baez, in the Under-13 age group. Close behind was the Miami Yacht Club team. 

It was the young Hawaiians who also wowed the judges the most in the Freestyle Finals with an incredible display of boat handling, agility, and creativeness. The spectators went wild with Marcos’ now famous “plank walk”, tacks in front of the mast, and his fluid ability to steer the boat with just his weight. 

Close behind on the judges’ cards was the tandem team of JP and Pearl Lattanzi with Pearl’s gymnastic moves, head stands, and JP’s “happy dance”.