Strong showing for COSA at Springtime Regatta
The Central Okanagan Sailing Association (COSA) held its 39th annual Springtime Regatta over the May Long Weekend, hosting dinghy sailors from across the Pacific Northwest.
The COSA regatta is Canada’s largest yearly sailing event between Vancouver and Toronto, and despite high waters, this year’s event saw 56 boats competing in six large fleets.
Steve Brunsden was the race official for the four-fleet Optimist course, which had 17 sailors competing in five races.
First in the Blue fleet, representing 11- and 12-year-olds, was COSA race team member, Claire Ramsey, who finished just ahead of Vancouver sailor Rory Walsh.
Ramsey also took honours as the Optimist overall champion.
Third place in the Blue fleet was Ian Wright of COSA, who also finished third overall. COSA’s Rory Wiebe placed seventh in the Blue fleet.
Ryan Rubadeau of COSA dominated the Red fleet for sailors 13-and-up, while younger brother Tyler won the White fleet sailed for sailors 10-and-under.
Kyle Wright, also of COSA, placed second in the White fleet, followed by Hudson Amery of West Vancouver and Lauren Gray of COSA in third and fourth, respectively.
The Optimist Green fleet is reserved for youth racers sailing their first regatta. Competitors included COSA sailors Max Ramsey, Devon Fraser, Grace Sisett, and Mason Mintz, as well as Oliver Mamon from Rossland.
First in the Laser Radial fleet was Alec Coleman of West Vancouver, whose top finish in the large fleet earned him first overall for the regatta. Second place also went to a West Van sailor, Alex Cherniavskii, with Bryana van Leeuwen of COSA placing third. Other top finishes in the Radial fleet included COSA sailors Zane Halperin in fourth, Cole Appleton in seventh, Katherine Littleton in eighth, Mackenzie Littleton in 10th and Sam Bekkering in 13th.
Gabriella Littleton of COSA finished first in the Laser 4.7 fleet.
At the front of the Hobie 18 fleet were COSA sailors Gillian Thomson and Brishen Holmes-Slattery, who edged out Paul Evenden and Tawnya-Dhaun Fox of Cultus Lake.
In the X-Class fleet, Fireball sailors Greg Desilets and Evelyn Chisholm of Summerland cruised to victory. Murray and Fiona Shirley of COSA finished fourth in the X-Class fleet.
The COSA Regatta was also host to the B.C. Laser Masters Championships, which sees sailors between the ages 35 and 80 compete in the Laser Full-Rig.
Points are awarded based on finishes with an adjustment for age.
Consequently, Great Grand Master sailor (65-plus) Peter Macdougal of Kimberley placed first ahead of Grand Master (55-64) Baha Akin of West Vancouver and Apprentice (35-44) Maciej Mamon of Rossland, despite Mamon’s faster finishes.
Regatta organizer and COSA coach Devin Rubadeau will be travelling to Lithuania in July with first-place finishers Ryan Rubadeau and Gabriella Littleton to compete at the 2017 International Children’s Games.
“Ryan and Gabriella are ready to compete, and are demonstrating the kind of confidence and skills necessary to sail safely and have fun against competitors from around the world,” said coach Rubadeau.
For more results from the Springtime Regatta, visit: http://cosa.bc.ca/racing_ regattas.php.