The 2013 Opti sailing season is off to a terrific start as the 60+ sailors actively involved in our program commenced their regular practice schedules.
Four regattas recent punctuated the early season's first 4 weeks. LYC continued a long, tradition of excellence in team racing at the USODA Midwinters Team Racing over the Martin Luther King Day holiday, with a solid performance by all four participating LYC teams, including the overall victorious team of Mack Fox, Allie Toppa, Liza Toppa, Sophia Reineke, and Calli Lewis. LYC was the showcase for the following weekend's Boomerang Regatta.
A great turnout of 63 green fleet and 67 advanced fleet competitors was magnificently handled by army of volunteers, too numerous to name. The volunteers, the LYC staff, and a top tier race committee choreographed a picture perfect weekend for all from the opening skippers meeting all the way through the many post race appearances court appearances in the protest court of Commette and Meghar. In the end, Lauderdale's sailors showed what a home field advantage means, lead by Garrett Dixon winning White Fleet racing, and Lauderdale sailors taking nine of the top 10 places in the red division. Allie Toppa, Mack Fox, Sophia Reineki took overall top places.
The first weekend in February had the Lauderdale Sailing team competing in the USODA Valentines Day Regatta in St. Petersburg FL. Light wind conditions did not allow for many races, but LYC sailors performed well in what racing did take place.
Congrats out to Sophia Rieneke and Connor Correll for top 10 finishes, and to Blair Lalor and Sinead McMannus for qualifying for this April's Team Trials in beautiful Pewaukee Wisconsin. Luke Welker won the overall in the Buccaneer Blast in Key Largo the following weekend, with LYC sailors Jonathan Seigel and Benjamin Harvey finishing 1 and 2 respectively in the green fleet division. Finally, everyone in Optiland at LYC is pulling for Severin Gramm, LYC's representive on the US squad in the Trofio Ville de Palomos commencing 2/12 in Spain!!
