Since 2004 a team race day has been included in the OptiNAM schedule. This fast paced, double elimination format features short but exciting races with a completely different strategic mindset where sailors work as a team to block, assist and attempt to penalize the opposing team. The team with the lowest tally of their finishing order wins the race. Countries field 4 boat teams but use a 5th sailor to rotate into the line-up as needed.
Canada entered two teams - CAN1 (Justin Vittecoq, David Sapp, Galen Richardson and Eric Lyall) and CAN2 (Nicholas O'Brien, Alexa Sipple, Aidan Harris and Justin Yuen). CAN1 beat BER3 (13-33) in their first race. In the second race against USA1, CAN1 tied in points (18 each) but lost on the tie breaker - the first boat to finish! After a bye in the next round and long rest, CAN1 competed against BER1 losing 20-22 and were eliminated.
CAN2 lost to BER2 in the first round (12-24) and had a bye in the second round. CAN2 beat MEX2 (16-22) in the third round and were eliminated by ISV (10-26) in the next round.
Congratulations to all the team members for all the entertainment and hard work!
Monday is a layday for the 176 OptiNAM sailors and they will return to fleet racing in the Great Sound on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The night continued with a birthday party for Alexa at a local Italian restaurant and a party for the sailors and parents at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. The statue in the pictures is by Dirk Kneulman of Ontario Yachts!
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