Napier optimist Josh Gilmore hangs tough. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
Napier optimist Josh Gilmore hangs tough. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
The fishing vessels were tucked away nicely in sheltered clefts to escape the whiplash of Cyclone Cook along the coastline overnight but it was going to take a lot to stop a courageous fleet of adroit optimist sailors from ducking for cover in Napier yesterday.
No doubt, it wasn't easy. Several of the 175 competitors had vomited in the big swells before bailing out on day one of the five-day Toyota-sponsored national regatta along the Ahuriri waterfront of the Napier Sailing Club-hosted event.
"There were some seasick sailors out there in four-metre swells so that's why a lot of fishing vessels are parked along Ahuriri here," said host club stalwart Adrian Mannering.
"All the opti sailors were out there sailing," said a jovial Mannering, emphasising they build them tough in the sport.
It was "a different sort of test" for some in the fleet, which boasts the country's top-10 optimists, including 28 Australian competitors, five from New Caledonia and four from Tahiti.
He said competitors from areas such as Auckland had sheltered coastlines so it would have been something they would have added to their resume.
However, the green fleet category, of 71 "learning-to-race" sailors, had been scratched on the water.
Race official Gerald Martin tried to start on time but to no avail until they picked up 12-knot breezes although only two of three qualifying races were completed.
"In big seas the green fleet didn't go out today because of these conditions so they stayed on land and did some activities," said Mannering, but they had had a hoot regardless.
Martin, of Napier, with 2011 Flying Fifteen World Championship experience under his belt, postponed the third race because he wanted to ensure that while the youngsters were going to be tested he also maintained a course that offered a fair contest.
The weather will dictate if the third race can be added to today's three races.
Predictably the country's No 1 optimist sailor, Seb Menzies, of Murrays Bay Sailing Club (Auckland), lived up to his billing with two first placings.
Up to 4m-high waves dwarf Optimist national sailors on day one of racing yesterday.
Napier club member Josh Gilmore was the best of the Hawke's Bay performers.
The equal No 9-ranked sailor was satisfied with finishing runner-up in the first race and fifth in the second.
"He was quite far ahead around the bottom mark," said Gilmore when asked what he could have done to keep Menzies honest in race one.
The year 10 Napier Boys' High School pupil said he did not feel under the weather.
"Not at all. I just never have ever got seasick," Gilmore said, revealing at the end of the second race the wind subsided before the westerlies kicked in but that wouldn't have made a difference as he held on to his fifth position all the way although he gained some ground.
The teenager said he would rather take advantage of his home course than sail anywhere else, especially a sheltered Auckland venue.
Twenty entries have been received for the teams' segment of the regatta tomorrow with only three races required to determine gold, silver and bronze winners.
