News Around the World
How did they do that? Even the rigs line up perfectly as a ‘few’ of the 248-strong Optimist World Cup fleet are towed out to the start. Readers will be aware that our respect for the almost 80-year-old Clark Mills design comes with certain reservations; great to race, good for very young sailors, but now extremely expensive to campaign at the front, often pretty lonesome for those at the back and not exactly the ideal feeder for junior skiffs like the 29er. And so we noted with interest the record 286-boat entry at this year’s O’pen Skiff Worlds in Italy (formerly the Bic O’pen). Maybe it’s time to discuss lowering the age cap for the Oppi to force teenagers to move along and leave it for the nippers. And for parents, you will be surprised how much cheaper life gets should you switch allegiance…
the 420 and the 49er both appeal to me, I like both, but we’ll see. SH: They are two very different styles of boats… BF: Well, the truth is that I don’t know because I’ve never sailed either of them! I guess I have to try them and then decide (laughs). SH: The 2023 World Cup was quite tricky… BF: It was a complicated regatta because some days there was no wind and so we never got out. This did add to the pressure. Then on the last day I started in third overall and decided to gamble every- thing for the win… fortunately I managed to do it quite well. In the last race I had to be 10 and 17 points respectively in front
of the first two; I pushed really hard on the last run but I started the last beat still without the points gap I needed. But on the beat I sailed very well, I took a lot of places and in the end I was able to overcome the points difference. I knew not to give up at the last leeward mark – in light air like that I know I am better on the beats than the runs. But when there is a lot of wind on the runs I am fast, especially if there are a lot of waves when I really like to ‘glide’. SH: And upwind in heavy winds? BF: When I was younger I was super-light and it was difficult; now I have grown quite tall and I can hike and pump much harder!! SH: Did you enjoy racing at a more relaxed venue like this? BF: The combination of La Ballena Alegre with its great shore life and the racing in the Bay of Roses for me make for a perfect regatta. The organisation was very good, and I really liked that we could be living together in the bungalows. Also, everything was super close, being able to walk to the club, the beach, the bungalows, etcetera. It allowed me to meet lots more people and make new friends. SH: Is there a big difference in the fleet between girls and boys or is it more about age? BF: Age counts a lot. I am 13 years old but those who are 15 have more experience and the difference is noticeable. But it is also true that the boys are stronger than us and except in very light winds the girls are at a disadvantage. My own progress has been logical with age, in 2021 I was 12th (girl) in the European Championship in Cádiz and last year I finished sixth in the Arkas World Cup in Turkey.
30 SEAHORSE
SH: And next year… BF: I have one more season in the Optimist. After that I have not decided. I want to really investigate racing with two in the boat, but there is also some pressure for me to go into the ILC (Laser). They invited me to a regatta in La Manga del Mar Menor and I sailed in ILC 4. The difference is tremendous – at first I couldn’t keep up with the boat! It was blowing 13-15kt and because of my low weight it was difficult. But it was funny too. I had fun!! SH:What advice would you give to girls and boys starting out in the Optimist? BF: Set a realistic target each year and fight hard to hit it. If you aspire to good results you have to work consistently hard to achieve your goals. At first my goal was to enjoy life and have fun sailing. Then when María Perelló won three consecutive World Cups in 2017, 2018 and 2019, it inspired me and I decided to try to win the title. SH:So do you still enjoy sailing or is the growing pressure for results beginning to overwhelm you? BF: No, it’s OK. I am having fun and still enjoying myself. I manage the pressure of the competition well; it is a big factor but one that I like. And now I am learning to control it…
Trofeo La Reina in Valencia While the new women’s Optimist champion Blanca Ferrando was competing in Murcia at an ILC 4 regatta, the La Reina Trophy keelboat regatta was taking place at her home yacht club in Valencia. It is undoubtedly the great annual event for the Real Club Náutico de Valencia, which together with the Conde de Godó Trophy in Barcelona compete to be the second Spanish regatta after the Copa del Rey. For the past six years during this regatta the Club Náutico has
presented a special award to a journalist who has made an out- standing contribution to this sport of sailing. By pure chance fate led the Real Club Náutico Valencia to invite me to introduce the winner this year. Of course I could not decline the honour since the 2023 protagonist was Carlo Borlenghi, whom I have had the good fortune to have known since 1987.
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