Parkinson wins southern area Optimist title

Tuesday 10th June 2008, 2:29PM BST.

Zoe Parkinson gets to grips with the winds off the Hamble. (0590376)

ZOE PARKINSON continued her impressive early-season form in winning the Southern Area Championship for Optimist dinghies on the Solent.

She beat 68 young sailors in the most strongly contested of the regional championships in the class. Charles Parkinson, her father, was delighted with the result.

‘Last year Zoe finished runner-up in the Southern Area Championship on a tiebreak, so it was great for her to take the win this time – her first victory in an open event. Following her third place at the Inland Championships [in a fleet of 240] earlier this month, this result establishes Zoe among the fastest sailors in the class at the moment.’

The racing, organised by Warsash Sailing Club, took place just outside the Hamble river.