2019 USODA Optimist National Championships

The Annapolis Yacht Club’s Optimist RWB Team traveled to Grosse Pointe, Michigan, with eight sailors to compete in two National Championships this summer from July 22 through July 28, 2019. The first Championship was the Girls National Championship. Congratulations goes out to both of our AYC girls, Ava Arepally and Alders Kulynych-Irvin, for competing and putting up some impressive results. Ava Arepally ended up finishing 25th, accomplishing her goal set earlier in the week to “finish in the top 25 at Girls Nationals.”

On July 23 and 24, our team of eight sailors experienced everything from full practice days to boat repairs, boat washing and waxing, measurement and weigh in, and another practice day. Our sailors were able to go into the Coed National Championship feeling good about their boats, mentally prepared for the racing, and had a good sense of how to cope with a long and challenging four days of intense racing. 

On July 25, the Coed Championship started off with opening ceremonies at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club’s flagpole, where our sailors and their fellow competitors received a warm welcome from the host club. Racing commenced around 2:00 PM due to a short postponement ashore due to lack of wind on day one. Only one race was completed due to several restarts/general recalls.

The conditions on day two were also light and lumpy, so the RC decided to postpone out on the water until the southerly fully filled in. Three races were completed that day for all three flights. For some of our sailors, this was their first time experiencing 12-14 hour days from the time they were rigging to the time they had dinner. It takes a lot of stamina to be able to sail in a four day national championship! So kudos to our team for doing such an awesome job! Our team also enjoyed an America’s Cup Presentation by our very own AYC member and sailor, Tucker Thompson! After the presentation, Tucker Thompson and one of the America’s Cup sailors took a photo with our team and our sailors were pretty excited to be included in his presentation.

Saturday and Sunday’s racing saw a change in the weather and our AYC sailors got to experience bigger breeze for the final two days of the championship. On Saturday the winds were a steady 12 knots building to 15 knots with some gusts to 18 knots. This allowed for a shorter day of racing with the flights getting around the course a lot faster.

Sunday had a short delay due to approximately 25 scoring inquires and a heap of protests that were being heard that morning to determine the splits between Gold and Silver rounds before the final championship rounds could be sailed. Racing commenced and Gold was able to successfully complete all three championship races that day. Due to an incoming storm, Silver was only able to complete two races that day before the storm. Breeze ranged from 10 to 12 knots on the final day with gusts a little higher in the afternoon.

Overall this year’s Nationals was a blast for our team. Our sailors experienced varying winds, improved on their positions daily, set reasonable goals for each race, and learned to attack the regatta one race at a time.

Next up on our USODA Regatta Circuit will be NJ State Champs and Opti New Englands at the end of August.

Girls Nationals Finals Results (PDF)

Final AYC Girls Nationals Results:
USA 20616 – Ava Arepally – 25th place out of 77 boats  
USA 17649 – Alders Kulynych-Irvin – 59th place out of 77 boats

Final Coed Results (PDF)

Silver Division:
(Total Boats: 170 boats)
USA 22667 – Christopher Draper – 12th Place  
USA 21073 – Luca DeSimone – 16th Place  
USA 20956 – Nathan Jensen – 32nd Place  
USA 20367 – Conor Mastromarco – 80th Place  
USA 20616 – Ava Arepally – 86th Place  
USA 22852 – Luca Webb – 89th Place  
USA 20369 – Robbie Wilmer – 114th Place  
USA 17649 – Alders Kulynych-Irvin – 155th Place

Click here to see the photo album.