Kalamaki, Monday, May 23, 2016.
The 22nd Spring Series Cup organized by Yacht Club Voula was on the “menu” for the second racing weekend of the 2016 season for OPTIMUM Yacht Racing Team. On Saturday, OPTIMUM 3–THENAMARIS-OPTIMISE topped the scoreboard on the 26-mile coastal race from Voula to Patroklos and back, a race that took place under grey skies, lots of mist and southeasterly winds up to 25 knots. On Sunday, the Race Committee opted for two Windward/Leeward races around buoys that proved tough enough in the prevailing conditions characterized by heavy northerly winds and occasional rain. Team OPTIMUM-THENAMARIS-OPTIMISE managed two more podium positions scoring a 2nd and a 3rd that allowed the Optimum boys to settle in 2nd place for the day. Podium results early in the season build confidence to the team and reassure sponsors for their choice and belief in OPTIMUM’s past record.
“It was ugly, cold and wet British type conditions, nowhere near typical Greek sunny spring weekend. However, all Team OPTIMUM members showed up on time both days and you could sense that the well known Optimum fighting spirit was present at 08:30 both days. We nailed the starts, kept pushing all the way in every race and we avoided costly mistakes. Comparing to the previous weekend, crew work was much smoother and as such, it allowed the afterguard to explore more tactical options. Highlight of the racing was a violent wipe-out/broach on race 1 on Sunday that cost us 1st place but we were lucky to avoid any damage and only slip down to 2nd place. OPTIMUM 3-THENAMARIS-OPTIMISE laid flat on her side for over a minute after a poorly executed final jibe maneuver before mark 2. The boys stayed focused, worked hard on the ropes and made the 26m mast stand up again and the bow point to the mark” says Optimum mast man Stratis Tsamparlis, a new young recruit from last year.
For the 22nd SPRING Series, on board OPTIMUM 3–THENAMARIS-OPTIMISE the lineup included Gary Gabri, Stratis Tsamparlis, George Hatzigeorgiou, George Eliopoulos, Nikos Apostolakis, Alexis Chrysochoides, Manolis Markogiannakis, Antoine Drilias, George Kyragiannis, Patroklos Tachtatzis, Manos Maganiaris, Lambros Nakis, Periklis Livas, Nikos Lazos and Charris Mavrogeorgis.
This weekend the OPTIMUM Media Team had their hands full on ropes and pedestals due to the heavy weather conditions encountered, so not much imagery was collected but we hope that sponsors THENAMARIS and OPTIMISE will enjoy as much as they did the video product from last weekend, the podium results achieved and the silverware collected this weekend.