Yachting: Optimist – Eden Island Cup 2022 |17 October 2022
Winner Luc Marzocchi in action on Saturday morning
Luca Marzocchi wins season’s closing regatta
The Seychelles yachting Association officially closed it 2022 season on Saturday with the annual Eden Island-sponsored Optimist regatta where Luca Marzocchi surpassed everyone to win his second title, after first winning it in 2019.
The competition, held in the bay of the Eden Island Marina, gathered 10 young sailors who competed in three races, was back after a two-year absence due to the health restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Two first places and a third place finish earned Marzocchi five points, the same tally as runner-up Odysius Melanie who managed a first and two second-place finishes.
Two third places, and a runner-up spot earned Joshua Alcorn eight points and the third overall place, finishing ahead of Lyandro Larue who was ranked fourth in all three races, earning him 12 points in total.
Fabrice Julie finished fifth overall on 16 points after twice finishing fifth and once sixth, while Dominic Esparon earned 19 points and the sixth overall spots from two sixth-place and a seventh-place finish.
In the seventh overall position was Dario Uzice who collected a total of 21 points after finishing twice in eighth position and once fifth, finishing ahead of Michael Mason whose total was 22 points from two seventh and an eighth place.
Three ninth-place finishes earned Noah Michaud 27 points to finish ninth overall, ahead of Kian Julie who managed only a 10th-place finish in the third race, after failing to complete the first two.
The winners received their trophies and certificates from representative of the Eden Island Development Company Corrie Opperman in the presence of Seychelles Yachting Association (SYA) vice-chairperson Lucy Athanasius, SYA member Alain Alcindor, coach Francis Duval, as well as parents.
Mr Opperman thanked the SYA for the opportunity to be involved in yachting, especially in helping encouraging younger generation of sailors.
He also vouched the company’s future continuous support towards the sport.
Since its introduction in 2009, past winners of the Eden Island Optimist Cup are Ryan De Silva (2009), Alison Hoareau (2010, 2012), Brad Andre (2013), Ryan Alcindor (2014), Scott Andre (2015), Dominique Labrosse (2016, 2017), Fabio Bertola Thevenon (2018), and Luca Marzocchi (2019, 2022).
Luca Marzocchi, Joshua Alcorn and Odysius Melanie took part in the 2022 International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) African Optimist Championship at the Club Mykonos in Langebaan, South Africa from September 24 to October 1.
Marzocchi took the 17th overall position out of 66 sailors and was ranked fifth out of 31 males in Africa after four days of racing.
Melanie was ranked 32nd with 291 points (12th in Africa) and Alcorn 48th overall with 368 points (20th in Africa).
The African champion was Mozambican Antonio De Souza Junior with 120 points and he was ranked eighth worldwide.
Argentine Bautista Iriberri was the overall winner with 44 points and he also got two first place finishes in races five and eight.
The complete ranking of the Optimist Eden Island Cup 2022
- Lucas Marzocchi – 5 points
- Odysius Melanie – 5 points
- Joshua Alcorn – 8 points
- Lyandro Larue – 12 points
- Fabrice Julie – 16 points
- Dominic Esparon – 19 points
- Dario Uzice – 21 points
- Michael Mason – 22 points
- Noah Michaud – 27 points
- Kian Julie – 32 points
Roland Duval
