Bermuda’s Chase Cooper won the first Dick Kempe Trophy
Chase Cooper (BER) was the winner of the Dick Kempe Trophy, presented by Mrs. Neil Kempe, as the top Bermuda sailor in the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup. Photo by Charles Anderson-RBYC Top Bermuda sailor in the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup
By Laurie Fullerton
Hamilton, BERMUDA: Oct. 10, 2012 - Bermuda’s young sailor Chase Cooper won the first ever Dick Kempe Award as the top Bermuda sailor in the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup sailed October 4-7 on Bermuda’s Great Sound and Hamilton Harbour. Cooper finished seventh overall out of 39 entries, 16 from 15 countries and the remaining 23 from Bermuda.
The Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup – now in its 10th year – is an event that brings the best young International Optimist Class sailors from around the world to Bermuda. In doing so, it also creates a unique opportunity for Bermuda sailors to host and compete against many national champions who also become lifelong friends.
Chase’s sportsmanlike demeanor, sailing talent and overall performance both on the water and off made him a great recipient for this new award. Cooper is emerging as a top young Bermuda sailor who showed he has honed his skills and is competitive with the world’s best young Opti sailors.
Not only did Chase sail a great regatta, but he quietly set the standard for being a young Bermudian host to the international contingent of Optimist sailors who spent nearly one week practicing and racing in Bermuda.
There is no doubt that this event stays in the minds of the young sailors from overseas. It also raises the level of sailing for Bermuda’s youth sailors who would not normally get to meet the world’s best. The support for youth sailing here has always been important to people like the late Dick Kempe and in his honor Chase Cooper was given the inaugural Dick Kempe award for being the top Bermuda sailor in this event.
“I think this regatta went really well,” young Chase Cooper said. “We got to race against the best sailors from their home countries and it is good for all of us in Bermuda to get to learn from them and race against them. I didn’t think I had been sailing well all summer, but things really improved for me this week.”
Douglas Elmes of Ireland wins Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup
By Laurie Fullerton
Hamilton, BERMUDA: Oct. 7, 2012- Hamilton harbor set the stage for the final race of the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup today. Swiss sailor Damian Suri besting the fleet of 38 international and Bermuda sailors to win the 10th anniversary Renaissance Re trophy for his first place finish today.
Suri had a fantastic race in front of a huge spectator fleet. The race also featured sailors like American Audrey Giblin and Bermudian Chase Cooper very much in the hunt finishing in the top five today.
The Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup, the overall top prize, went to Douglas Elmes of Ireland who won it after 11 races with 50 points. Second place finisher Tomas di Luciano of Argentina had 54 points.
Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup Down to the Wire as Irish and Argentinian Sailors Vie for Top Spots
By Laurie Fullerton
Hamilton, BERMUDA: Oct. 6, 2012- For Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup sailor Douglas Elmes of Ireland, it all comes down to the last race as he is leading the regatta with 35 points over Tomas di Luciano of Argentina with 41 points. This is the first time Ireland has been to the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup and both Elmes and di Luciano have emerged as two young sailors with different styles that make them both exciting competitors to watch.
Elmes is the thoughtful strategist and di Luciano sails with guts and physical skill. This meant their final race of the day Friday was more of a match race between the two as their extensive lead over the rest of the fleet in the last race had the two of them fighting their way to the finish and learning new techniques at the same time.
Bermuda Tests the Skills of Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup Competitors
By Laurie Fullerton
Hamilton, BERMUDA: Oct. 5, 2012- The Great Sound saw some strategic racing today amongst the 38 strong fleet competing in the Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup with current leader Douglas Elmes of Ireland picking the correct shift consistently and finishing the day in the number one spot.
Elmes who has a total of 16 points after seven races (with one drop) best illustrated that the key to racing well today was all about how the young sailors grappled with frustrating light-air conditions and tried to decide where to pick their shifts and tack up the course.
“In light air, I try to cover and not go too near the corners,” Elmes said, ”I actually prefer light wind and I find it relaxing and it gives me a chance to think. I haven’t thought any farther ahead – towards winning the event – but that would be really nice.”
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