Peru's Zimmerman Wins Optimist North American Championship
Sailing fast isn't the only reason why Peru’s Alexander Zimmerman won the 2005 Optimist North American Championships, sailed out of the island of Tobago, June 26 to July 2. The other half of the equation was sailing smart. “Concentration,” said 14-year-old Zimmerman, about the secret to his success.
185 junior sailors, ranging from 7 to 15 years of age and hailing from 18 countries, competed in this first Optimist North American Championships ever to be held in the Caribbean.
"This moment has fulfilled a three-year dream," said David Lewis, president of the Trinidad & Tobago Optimist Dinghy Association (TODA). "Our island's history and heritage had been founded on those who arrived by sea. Today, this event puts us on the road towards fulfilling a vision where the children of these islands see sailing as an alternative sport and recreation for the future."
Racing took place off Store Bay, located on the southwest side of Tobago. Caribbean Sea conditions were calm during the early part of the week, building to 4 to 5 foot swells that caused several sailors to swamp. Meanwhile, winds were generally light and shifty, yet midweek thunderstorms did lead to vacillating conditions that ranged from blustery gusts followed by dead calm. Ultimately, sailors raced 11 races on a windward-leeward course that had an offset mark and upwind finish.
Zimmerman led the fleet from day one. "We brought a strong team from Peru,” said Peter Barclay, vice president of the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA), who hails from Peru.
Trinidadian sailors pushed hard towards the top with three sailors consistently placing in the top ten. “It was tough out there. But, we really trained hard for this event and were up to the challenge," said 14-year-old Matthew Scott, who ended fifth overall and second to fellow islander Anthony Alkins for the Top Caribbean Competitor award.
In addition to placing first overall in fleet, Peru’s Zimmerman also won a trophy for Best Placed Competitor from a Non-North American Country.
The USA picked up a booty of prizes. Anne Haeger scored Best Placed Female Competitor in North America as well as Best Placed Female. Fellow countryman Colin Smith won Best North American Competitor and Best North American Male.
In other awards, Brazil’s Carlo Mazzaferro ended as Best Placed Sailor under the age of 12.
Individual racing was suspended midweek for two days while 16 teams competed in the IODA North American Team Racing Championship. "Optimist team racing uses a 'direct elimination with repechage' system familiar in other sports," explains IODA Secretary, Robert Wilkes. "The table looks complicated but is based on the simple principle that after two defeats the team is eliminated. Seeding is on the basis of individual races."
Torrential rains and little wind allowed only 16 of the team races to be sailed the first day. In spite of this, humbly 13th seeded Puerto Rico disposed of the mighty USA 1 team and then 5th seeds Brazil. The next day, clearer skies and stronger winds allowed the remaining 19 races to be sailed, with team Peru emerging victorious, followed by Bermuda second, Mexico third and Trinidad & Tobago fourth.
While the four-member team from Bequia didn't go home with any top awards, they did have a winning week in the form of experience gained as newcomers to the sport and a first time entry to an event with such a wealth of international competition. "We usually sail with 8 Optimists. This is a much bigger event. “It’s new for us and it’s been hard,” said Jamal Ollivierre. “But, it’s been fun.”
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