North America national events: photos and summaries

Miami Regional O'pen Cup - 9 / 10th April 2010

Following the previous updates of this exciting new series, on April 11th, Miami Yacht Club hosted the sixth and final event of the first Winter O'pen Bic Series of the 2009/10 Florida season. Seems the O'pen Miramar Blast, held around the waters of the nearby island of Miramar in the Biscayne Bay well served its name.

And what a 'Blast' it was. On a perfect breezy day with winds averaging 12-14 knots all day, more than 30 sailors from the local sailing scene showed up on race day, making it be a 'perfect racing day'.

The rhythm was fast, not only on the course but also for the day. At the end of the day, eight races were held keeping everyone on the run. The 'Boring'(this is how kids call the traditional Olympic triangle), 'Super Cross', 'Figure 8' and 'Slalom' courses were at the top of list. But nothing equaled the excitement generated by the 'Long Course' featuring the old style Le Mans start.

'It is actually very cheerful to see all this kids getting this format so quickly, they love the unconventional courses, but most importantly they are literally having a 'blast' all the time' said Armando Castillo from the sidelines, 'some of these kids seem almost ready for 29er action at this point'.

For being the first time this series of six races around the South Florida circuit has more than exceeded the all expectations of the different clubs that organized them. Anywhere from 20-58 kids showed to each event with the level of competitiveness increasing event after event.

The Results with eight races completed and several heats of freestyle were as follows:

Overall:
1st- Geronimo Nores
2nd- Maximo N. Font
3rd- Juan Cruz Nores Carpignano

8 and under:
1st- Merlin Plant
2nd- Manuel Nores
3rd- Max Boman

Sail 4 Fun Overall:
1st- Little Sailors
2nd- The Wewe Farters
3rd- Dragons

Following the growth of the O'bic one design class in the world, the first series of 6 different regattas was coordinated between different clubs in the South East during the Fall '09 and Spring ‘10 seasons. Keep on the look for the final dates of the 2010/2011 series which will serve as the main team trials for the formation of Team USA going to the Worlds '10 to be held in the Caribbean sometime in December.

1st US Winter O'pen Bic Series:
Oct 17th-18th @River Romp, Ft Myers
Oct 24th-25th @ Fall Harvest Regatta, Miami
Dec 6th @ Key Biscayne Yacht Club, Key Biscayne
Jan 16th-17th @ Mid Winters in Shake a Leg, Coconut Grove
Feb 28th @ Lauderdale Yacht Club, Ft Lauderdale
April 11th @ Regional Open Cup - Miramar Blast, Miami