Caribbean triumph!
Ten or even five years ago the idea that the top four places at the championship would be taken by sailors from the Caribbean would have been unthinkable. But at the completion of the scheduled 12 races Ian Barrows of the U.S.Virgins emerged a clear winner with 2006 North American champion Iván Aponte leading three Puerto Ricans next in the ranking. With Just van Aanholt from Curaçao in 13th and Niki Barnes (ISV) taking girls' silver, the elation of the islanders is understandable.

In the team racing event held on Wednesday 19th Peru retained its title. Perhaps more surprising was the silver taken by the much improved team from Chile. Argentina were third.
Results

Paracas, which suffered severe earthquake damage just a few months ago, is to be congratulated, together with the many volunteer organisers for an excellent event.

WEBSITE

Garda Easter Meeting

999 sailors: the biggest world's biggest single-Class event just got bigger.

The Garda Easter Meeting, already in the record books as the biggest single-Class event in the world, has this year moved up several gears to record an entry of 999 Optimists from 29 countries.

The reason may be partly that these waters will host this year's IODA European Championship but the increase in popularity also reflects the general growth of Optimist sailing in Europe. Reports of previous years that Lake Garda provides brilliant sailing combined with excellent value in accommodation and meals have obviously spread to the new sailors and their families. For many of the participantd Riva itself and neighbouring clubs have been hosting a multitude of training courses for up to ten days prior to the regatta.

The logistics are incredible. Three race courses run five simultaneous races, three for the 866 under-16 "juniores" and two with shorter races for the 133 11- and 12-year old "cadetti". As well as the three race-committee teams totalling over 60 peple, over 200 support boats, each because of local law with a qualified driver and tightly controlled crew, are involved. The attention to detail is shown by providing pizza and hot chocolate - 140 litres a day! - to sailors coming ashore.

Participation rather than results are the keynote: this is, after all, accurately descibed as a meeting rather than a regatta or still less a championship, but the results are far from random. Winner was Harald Faste (NOR), 19th at last year's Worlds and the bronze medal went to current Asian champion Luke Tan (SIN). The top girls were 2007 European bronze and silver medallists Sara Piasecka and Ewa Ilska from Poland.

WEBSITE http://lakegardameeting.fragliavelariva.it/

Over 700 sailors are participating in the other major Easter regattas.

Portoroz

The Nokia Easter Regatta in Portoroz, Slovenia had 266 entries including a large contingent from the renascent fleet of Serbia. Winds were not however favourable and only four races were completed. Victory went to Tito Rodda from nearby Trieste, sailing in his seventh edition of this event, followed by the top girl at the 2007 Worlds Lara Vadlau (AUT).

Braassemermeer

At the Magic Marine Easter Regatta at Braassemermeer in Holland, weather conditions were a challenge for sailors and officers alike, who had to endure strong winds, 5°C temperature and even snow!! at the end of the third day of racing. In a fleet of 214 sailors from 8 countries, Stijn van Hoye from Belgium took the first prize home, while Mikka Nikkila from Finland and Kevin Peet from Netherlands were awarded prizes for the second and third places respectively.

New Zealand Open Nationals

On the other side of the world the New Zealand Toyota Optimist Nationals saw 178 sailors carrying the sail letters of eight countries. Australia sent its biggest entry ever - 16 sailors including some from Western Australia (5,000+km!).

The open event was won by Nicolas Poree from New Caledonia who led the scores only one point ahead of fellow sailor Maxime Mazzard. Third overall and 2008 National Champion was Logan Dunning Beck, from Wakatere Boat Club.

OOOOOOOOOO a VERY Happy Easter!