Whitsunday Optimist sailor in Asian Regatta

 Young Whitsunday Optimist sailor Eva Lorenz is back from the 21^st OCBC IODA Asian Optimist Championships with the accolade of being the first Australian girl.

 Eva ranked 81^st out of a total of 118 world-class competitors from 20 countries, beating fellow Australian Claire McNally and becoming 4^th non-Asian girl.

 “It was where I was aiming for,” said Eva, whose first day of racing saw her ranking 51^st.

 The regatta comprised 12 races held over six days in the island nation of Singapore, where Eva was also the youngest Australian to compete.

 Eva described the Asian conditions as “very different to the Whitsundays,” saying Singapore was hot and humid “and the water was dirty and choppy”.

 Competitors’ boats were fitted with GPS trackers allowing friends and family to watch the racing online and from overseas.

 “Klaus (Eva’s brother) and I watched her on the internet. We gave her high-five’s – we were cheering her along all the way,” said Eva’s mother Almuth Lorenz.

 Almuth also pointed to the benefits in life experience her 12-year-old daughter had gained by travelling to a new country and competing on this level.

 “It’s huge. She’s very independent anyway but this is great life experience – going to an Asian country, sorting herself out and finding her place in the group – it’s a good educational experience too,” Almuth said.

 Next on the agenda for Eva and her fellow Optimist sailors is the Whitsundays off-beach regatta, which will coincide with the forthcoming Airlie Beach Race Week.

 To see Eva’s Asian races replayed visit www.asianoptimistsailing.org.sg or for more information on joining the Whitsunday Optimist Sailing Team contact Jeremy Cooper on 0487 891 367.