The Maine State Opti Championships were held at the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club and for the second straight year a BHYC junior sailor took top honors.

Thirteen-year-old Jacqueline “Jax” van der Veen of Spruce Point held off Victoria Thompson of the Southport Yacht Club in a nip and tuck final. The victory means that the 2013 championships will also be held in Boothbay Harbor as the winner's home club inherits the race venue for the following year.

The Optimist Sailing Pram, affectionately known as the “OPTI,” is the U.S. Sailing Association vessel of choice for first level racers in fleets and sailing clubs around the world. More than 150,000 are in use today in 120 countries. Originally designed as a wooden boat that could be built from one sheet of plywood, today’s version is primarily of fiberglass construction.

In 2011 the race was won by Ian MacDiarmid of BHYC who has been spending this summer racing all over the country. Ian was here last week for the championship and served as an advisor to his successor champ. Van der Veen also won the annual award for the best finishing female sailor.

More than 50 young people from 8 to 14 years of age were involved in this year’s races which were sailed in two divisions based on skill and experience. In addition to the Boothbay Harbor and Southport yacht clubs, other clubs competing included Texas Corinthian Yacht Club, Malletts Ba Boat Club in Vermont, University of New Hampshire and Haraseeket Yacgt Club.

The championship fleets (Red, White and Blue) were sailed in spectacular wind and weather conditions in the area between Spruce Point, Squirrel Island and Burnt Island. The Green Fleet (for novice racers) was sailed in the inner harbor off the Yacht Club mooring field. The Green Fleet is designed to give young sailors the experience of racing against others without the pressure of qualifying for medals, etc. The Green fleet starting line was managed by Bill Hunt of Southport and assisted by his daughter, Caroline.

Principal race officer for the event was Howard Levitan who was assisted by BHYC Adult Sailing Director Geoff McKuskey, and traveling professional race managers Jay Wood and Garie Blackwell. Head of the protest committee was Lee Krow, an experienced racer and a member of both the BHYC and the Southport Yacht Club. Overall chair of the event was Bob McCann, Rear Commodore of BHYC.

Social events included a cookout supper after the first day of racing and the annual gathering for awards held following the final races.

Results

Red Fleet: 1) Jax van der Veen, BHYC; 2) Victoria Thompson, SYC; 3) David Wolins, SYC; 4) Andrew Turley, SYC; 5) Kelley Phippen, SYC.

Blue Fleet: 1) Matt McCuskey, BHYC; 2) Joey Chomyn, HYC; 3) Emma Jacobs, SYC; 4) Dane Phippen, SYC; 5) Marcus Russell, BHYC

White Fleet: 1) Eleanor Hutcheson, TCYC; 2) Lilly Butcher, TCYC; 3) Julie Shannon-Grillo, MBBC, 4) Erin Gershuny, UNH; 5) Michael Hayes, MBBC

Green Fleet: 1) Max Freund, SYC; 2) Ryan Russell, BHYC; 3) Ethan Barnard, SYC, 4) Nathan Selian, HYC; 5) Emma van der Veen, BHYC.