In keeping with past history, local sailors dominated the competition at the Central Okanagan Sailing Association’s (COSA) Annual Springtime Regatta, May 16 and 17.
Over 75 boats from across the Pacific Northwest competed in 10 fleets in what is consistently the Interior’s largest sailing competition.
While Sunday proved to be a miserable day for sailing, a long day of racing on a sunny, windy Saturday proved satisfying for all of the sailors. Race Officers Ron Rubadeau and Steve Brunsden ran two different race courses, with Rubadeau managing the main course and Brunsden focusing on the 32 Optimist sailors, ages 8 to 14.
COSA sailors earned top finishes in several fleets. Gillian Thomson and Ruth Branscombe easily secured 1st place in the Hobie 18 fleet, with Frank and Heather Halperin edging out Alexa Egar and Doug Weston to take second.
The first nine positions in the Hobie 18 fleet were all owned by COSA sailors. The Laser 4.7 also saw some top finishes by COSA sailors, with Alizon Littleton taking 1st in her fleet over Hollyburn sailor Garrett Reid. Mackenzie Littleton finished in 3rd, despite a first place finish in her second race.
The Optimist class had the most competition, with 32 sailors racing in 4 different fleets. Katherine Littleton was the top COSA sailor, finishing 13th overall. Ryan Rubadeau was edged off the podium with a 4th place finish in the Blue Fleet and a 14th overall finish. Gabriella Littleton and Zane Halperin finished in 5th and 6th place respectively in the Blue Fleet.
Tyler Rubadeau, 8, climbed up the rankings to a 3rd place finish in the White Fleet, which is dedicated to sailors nine and under. This was Tyler’s first time sailing with the main fleet, which reportedly was both scary and fun.
COSA was well represented in the large Opti Green fleet, which is dedicated to sailors competing in their first major regatta.
Claire Ramsey, Rory Wiebe, Ian Wright, Maia Tickle, and Christine Ashenhurst all sailed well; completing every race without hitting too may boats along the way. Racing in the large Laser Radial fleet for her first time was Emily Pilon, who earned a 14th place finish. Training partner, Ian Johnston, finished higher up the rankings in 8th place. The overall champion for the event was Jack Rieder from West Vancouver, who won the Radial fleet with a couple of 1st place finishes.
COSA race coaches Bryana van Leeuwen, Nicole Ludzki, and Elizabeth Hardy reported that COSA was once again poised to do well on the provincial racing circuit thanks to top finishes. The COSA Race Team will compete in several large events across the Pacific Northwest this season, including the Western Canadians which will be in Comox this year.
Added regatta organizer, Devin Rubadeau, “the COSA Springtime Regatta is the first major event our youth sail in every year, so to do well this early in the season when many of the costal sailors have been training all winter suggests that we are on the right track to be very competitive in 2015.”
