The latest news and information for the Long Island Sound Optimist Training/Team (LISOT). Visit www.lisot.org to sign up for events.
Friday, April 30, 2010
USODA 2010 Team Trials - Day 2 Update
Monday, April 12, 2010
LISOT Sailors Compete in the XVIII Lake Garda Optimist Meeting

Sunday morning had the kids out and about on bikes and on foot. Weather was warm in the 70’s and the sun was shining. Great exercise climbing up the steep mountain terrain gave the chance for some great photo opportunities!

Photo: Past. Present & Future LISOT sailors pose at the Bastione overlooking Lake Garda & Fraglia Vela Riva below.
Monday and Tuesday practice saw overcast skies and light to no wind. The Wednesday lay day became optional, as the sun was shining and the wind was guaranteed to arrive around 11 am. More than half of the team participated, while others took their one opportunity to see some sights outside of Lake Garda.

At 4:30 that afternoon the rain and cold damp weather arrived almost putting a damper on the parade. 900+ sailors from over 30 countries participated. Team USA was in true form singing the National Anthem and other patriotic songs as the marched carrying the US flag thru the town of Riva.
The first day of the regatta was a bust, pouring heavy rain all day. The kids were soaked to the bone, and cold! It was tough to travel so far, to have the first day canceled. Day two brought relatively light wind from the north in the morning. Then in the afternoon the thermal southerly arrived allowing for a total of three races to be completed. The kids did not arrive to the dock until 6:30 pm. LISOT kids had a decent day and some good finishes despite the light wind, tough competitors, and skewed start lines.

Day three saw overcast skies with some sun occasionally poking out. We prayed for some thermal warming of the mountains above, and at 1:30 the wind kicked in along with a cold front and 13 – 15 knots. In the end 4 races counted and one drop. Out of 741 boats, Team USA's Roger Dorr, Reinier, Maeve White, & Alexandra made it to the Gold Fleet. KB Knapp, Maddie Widmeier & Audrey were in the Silver fleet, and Emma White was in the Bronze.
The last day was Easter Sunday and the kids found Easter eggs filled with chocolate in their boats. Not sure if the coaches approved but they did not argue as they received bigger Easter Bunnies to munch on. An early 8:30 am launch from the dock brought in two light air races and the conclusion of yet another successful optimist regatta for Fraglia Vela Riva.
LISOT sailors finished well:
Gold Fleet:
33. Reinier Eenkema van Dijk
150. Alexandra DelBello
Silver Fleet
61. Maddie Widmeier
81. Audrey Giblin
Full results: www.fragliavelariva.it/clientfiles/classifica/Juniores.htm
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
LISOT Gives & Gets at the Opti South Americans
The trio "gave" by donating sails to Paraguay and El Salvador, and "got" by bringing home Gold and Silver (full results).
The US won the Gold Medal at the Nations Cup Team Race. Harry Koeppel (below, 2nd from left) and Malcolm Lamphere (2nd from right) were members of the winning USA Team 1. They beat USA Team 3 in the finals.

Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick (below, 2nd from left) was awarded the Womans Vice Champion award for finishing 2nd girl overall. Megan was also the #2 US sailor.

And Team USA donated sails to Paraguay and El Salvador to help support new Opti programs in those two countries. Team USA was recognized for this by IODA.