Going to Rio

[DArcy]

As some of you may remember, my daughter, Branwen, is an Optimist Sailor. Since she started sailing Optis at the age of 8 she has wanted to make the Canadian team. The last couple of years were challenging for big regattas but the Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association (CODA) managed to pull together a national qualifier event in October with some of the best under 16 sailors in the country attending. Branwen sailed very well in that event and was invited to represent Canada at the South American Optimist Championship this October. I'm very proud of her and what she has achieved!

See link below if you are willing to contribute to her campaign.

Donate to Get Branwen to Rio!, organized by D'Arcy Craig

Branwen has been sailing for the past 7 years on the Britannia Yacht Club’s Opti Race team in Ottawa,… D'Arcy Craig needs your support for Get Branwen to Rio!

gofund.me

 

[kloudie1]

Outstanding!

 

[kappykaplan]

Outstanding!

Indeed!!!!

 

[capta]

When I was a teen, professional sailors were not allowed to participate in those events, the Olympics or the America's Cup.
I believe it is much different today and perhaps Branwen could get a couple of corporate sponsors in Canada. Possibly even the Canadian government. After all, she is representing Canada.

 

[DArcy]

They do allow for some advertising on the boat. I haven't looked into any corporate sponsorship as that is another level that I'm not sure we want to get into yet. The Canadian government is notoriously stingy when it comes to sports

 

[DArcy]

Today was team racing at CORK in Kingston, Branwen's team did fairly well. They don't get a lot of team racing experience so this was an important event for them. In the first race a sailor on the competing team hunted her before the start causing her to jibe quickly from port to starboard to avoid him, which caused her to capsize. She was pissed. She learned not to be on port tack within 2 minutes of the start and the next race she targeted the sailor she believes is the best on that team, hunted on starboard before the start and caused him to capsize. Kids learn quick

I've never been so proud that my daughter caused pain and suffering to another human but it is all within the rules of team racing.

CORK fleet racing starts tomorrow with 120 Optis registered.

Donate to Get Branwen to Rio!, organized by D'Arcy Craig

Branwen has been sailing for the past 7 years on the Britannia Yacht Club’s Opti Race team in Ottawa,… D'Arcy Craig needs your support for Get Branwen to Rio!

gofund.me

 

[jviss]

Wow, congrats!

I've been to Rio. Advice: if you fall in the water, keep your mouth shut. Don't ask me how I know.

 

[jviss]

Donation made, best of luck, and please post updates.

 

[DArcy]

Donation made, best of luck, and please post updates.

Thanks!

We have regattas and team training for the next few weeks; I will post updates here.

 

[dLj]

Full reports please! You darn well better be proud! I’m sure impressed! Plus she didn’t cause harm - she used strategy!
dj

 

[DArcy]

CORK racing was a bit challenging for Branwen, she was working on pushing the start line to avoid the massive line sag large Optimist fleets experience and she ended up with 3 UFDs in one day. That's U Flag Disqualification which happens when they start the fleet under a U Flag and you are over the line within one minute before the start. The next day her coach worked on transits and she did much better. She got 14th and two 8th place finishes.
We are now in Lunenburg NS with training this week then the Canadian Championships next week.
On the Bluenose, site seeing before Opti sailing.

I was amazed at all the people facing the wrong way at the wheel for pictures. The deck hand standing there said he doesn't bother trying to correct people any more, but I made sure Branwen faced the bow.

 

[jviss]

Thanks for the update!

 

[dLj]

UFDs are needed for her to hone her start timing skills. Don't let them get her down. You have to push the envelope enough to learn the exact edges.

She sure is competitive isn't she! Ha!

dj

 

[DArcy]

After a couple of days training in Chester, several Optis sailed across Mahone Bay to Lunenburg. These 7'8" boats are not normally considered coastal cruisers but they all made 8 mile trip safely.

 

[DArcy]

We were promised good wind in Mahone Bay for this regatta but the wind didn't play along. We had some light winds and big shifts which the locals said was unusual and then someone pointed out the name of the race committee boat

But we had fun while waiting for wind

And I had a great ride so I could get a front row seat, it's always great to be out on the water. I was in the grey boat below

 

[DArcy]

Team Canada Optis ready to launch for first day of training before the South American Championships

The girls are eager to get out on the water

But I got a hug before they launched