2002 yearbook
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Optimist
2002 Yearbook
®
Three boats:OneWorld Class
To find out more about Laser 4.7and Formula Laser contact your local Laser builder.
Be your own Boss Sailing a Laser 4.7 is your next important steptowards independence, where you make the deci-sions that really count. Move up to the Class
that combines trainingby Olympic coacheswith top youth racing. The Laser 4.7 providesreal Laser racing atthe youngest age.
•The next step from the Optimist
•Class coaching structure with Olympic coaches •Continued LaserCoachLaser 4.7 training•Simply change thelower mast and sail to
progress to Laser Radial or Olympic Laser.
Laser 4.7 World Championships 2002: Holland (www.laser47worlds.nl)
Laser 4.7Worldwide
Performance Sailcraft Europe Ltd6 Riverside Banbury Oxon UK OX165TL+44(0)1295 [email protected]
Vanguard Sailboats300 Highpoint Avenue Portsmouth RI 02871 [email protected]
Laser 4.7- Real Laser racing at the youngest age
Antigua
Barbados
Bermuda
Br. Virgin I.
Canada
Cuba
G. Cayman
Grenada
Guatemala
Mexico
Neth. Antilles
Nicaragua
Puerto Rico
St. Lucia
St. Vincent
Trinidad & T.
U.S.A.
U.S. Virgin I.
Argentina
Brasil
Colombia
Chile
Ecuador
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela
Algeria
Angola
Egypt
Kenya
Mauritius
Morocco
Seychelles
S. Africa
Tunisia
Zimbabwe
The Optimist WorldAustria
Belarus
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Rep.
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
SpainSweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
Yugoslavia
Bahrain
Chin. Taipei
China
Hong Kong
IndiaIndonesia
Japan
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrghyzstan
Malaysia
Myanmar
Pakistan
Philippines
Qatar
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
U.A.E.
American Samoa
Australia
Cook Islands
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua N. Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Is.
Tahiti
Attended Worlds 2002
Attended Continental 2002
Other International Events 2002
Builds GRP Optimists
Equipment/travel Grants
Coaching course 1996-2002Italics = Not current members
02INSIDECOVER 22/8/06 16:47 Page 1
IODAGrowing like grassTo the sailing world the Optimist is like grass: such a universal phenomenon that one scarcely notices it!The Optimist exists . . . . and that is all one can say.
but it is not as simple as that . . . IODA, the International Optimist Dinghy Association,works hard to nurture that universal phenomenon andto create from the grass a well-maintained, level lawn -a lawn fit for young people to play on.
The One-Design projectTen years ago the Optimist faced a problem. Boatsfrom some builders were faster than others or werebelieved to be so and the price was spiralling upwards. For three years IODA worked to re-introduce the one-design principle. Today the result is boats so similar toeach other that ten builders were represented in the top20 at the Europeans. Local builders supply local markets. And boats cost at least 30% less than in 1990.
Developing sailing worldwideThe key to global development, IODA believes, is continental and regional regattas, often linked tocoach-training. 1990 saw the first IODA AsianChampionship: the long-term effect on Asian sailingcan be seen in the Worlds results. More recently wehave fostered Oceanian and African Championships andregional regattas in the Caribbean and elsewhere.In 1989 49 countries were members of IODA and 38sent teams to IODA events. Today IODA has 99national members and 72 countries participated in our seven championships.
Keeping it “child-friendly”Competition yes, but competition tailored to the needs ofour young sailors. Commercialism, nationalism, and discredited educational theories have all threatened theOptimist.
IODA works for the benefit through sailing of the youngpeople of the world.
We hope that these pages have shown how.
President:René Kluin I.R.O. (NED)
Vice-Presidents:David Booth (RSA)Hans-Peter Bak (DEN)Peter Barclay (PER)
Technical Comittee:Hans Thijsse (RSA) - chairmanLuis Horta Moragas I.M. (ESP)Jens Juhl (DEN)Nuno Reis I.M. (POR)
Regatta Committee:Michel Barbier I.R.O. (FRA) - chairmanNazli Imre (TUR)Alen Kustic I.R.O. (CRO)
International Measurers:Jean-Luc Gauthier I.M. (FRA)David Harte I.M. (IRL)Yoshihiro Ishibashi I.M. (JPN)Ms. Hyo-Kyung Jang I.M. (KOR)Paolo Luciani I.M. (ITA)Luis Horta Moragas I.M. (ESP)Dr. Curly Morris I.M. (IRL)Nuno Reis I.M. (POR)Ralph Sjöholm I.M. (FIN)
Members of Honour:Viggo Jacobsen (President of Honour)Lars WallinNigel RingroseErik C. HansenAl ChandlerJens AndersenFred KatsHelen Mary WilkesRalph SjöholmNorman Jenkins
Secretariat:International Optimist DinghyAssociationBalscadden View, Abbey St.Howth, Dublin, Ireland
Secretary: Robert Wilkes Tel: +353-1-839 5587Fax: +353-1-839 4528e-mail: [email protected]
24
The Optimist
From
to
in over 100 countries
To provide sailboat racingfor young people at low cost
and
to co-ordinate youth workbetween member countries
These are the objectives of theInternational Optimist Dinghy
Association.
This yearbook is an attempt torecord how the IODA is
fulfilling its mission.
1
Photo credits;yachtshots.com
Ronnie KiaulehnBob Nagy
Robert Wilkes
After the Optimist A bit bigger!The helm of the Farr 52 on the
left is just 21 years old. He sailed in two Optimist
Worlds, finishing 27th in 1994.Then he sailed a 420 at the ISAF
Youth Worlds, won the WorldYouth Match Racing
Championship, team raced at university, and helmed the Farr
to 2nd. in Cowes Week.
A lifetime sportSailing is a lifetime sport wherethose aged 8 to 80 are practisingthe same skills. One of the tasks
of the Optimist Class is to provide the sailors of the future.
Many will be content to sail atclub or national level. But for
those with the desire and talentthe Optimist is the introduction to
the world of competitive international racing.
The Olympic routeFor the really dedicated the
Olympics remains the goal. Atthe Sydney Olympics over 50%
of all dinghy helms were former Optimist sailors.
Two of those who sailed in the1994 Optimist Worlds have
already made it, Gareth Blanckenberg (RSA) and
Tania Elias-Calles (MEX). Many more will be there in 2004,
Not just the best inOptimists
It is not just the best Optimistsailors who go on to greater
things. Also in 1994 a certainMagalie Bonneau-Marcil (CAN)was 180th out of 181. Ten yearslater she too may qualify for the
Athens Olympics.
PS: the helm is Mark Campbell-James.And the Farr is managed by Ross
Monson, another veteran of the ’94 Worlds!
www.optiworld.org/ioda-oldboys.html
23
The Golden Book: ex-Optimist Olympic medallistsBen Ainslie (GBR ) Thomas Johanson (FIN)Iain Percy (GBR ) Belinda Stowell (AUS)Robert Scheidt (BRA) Mateusz Kusnierewicz (POL)Kristine Roug (DEN) Teresa Zabell (ESP)Evgeniy Braslovec (UKR) Fernando Leon (ESP)Jochen Schümann (GER) José Maria v.d. Ploeg (ESP)Linda Andersen (NOR) Jordi Calafat (ESP)Francisco Sanchez (ESP) Patricia Guerra (ESP)Allison Jolly (USA) Luis Doreste (ESP)Domingo Manrique (ESP) Nicholas Henard (FRA)Margriet Matthijsse (NED) Sebastian Godefroid (BEL)Yumiko Shige (JPN) Hans Wallen (SWE)Georgiy Shayduka (RUS) Natalia Via Dufresne (ESP)Morgan Reeser (USA) Paul Foerster(USA)James Brady (USA) Peer Moberg (NOR)Javier Conte (ARG) Juan de la Fuente (ARG)Rene Schwall (GER) Serena Amato (ARG)Frederik Lööf (SWE) Hugo Rocha (POR)Julia Trotman (USA) Tonu & Tomas Tuniste (EST)
Internet disproves a mythFor years some have claimed, with little evidence, thatmost successful Optimist sailors give up sailing when theyleave the Class.Research made possible by the internet has now shownthat, from the sample year of 1994, at least 55% ofWorlds participants are still sailing competitively six toeight years later.
2
The IODA websitewww.optiworld.org
22
Let’s start at thebeginning
Why sailing?
What is your child going to dothis summer? Sit in his bedroom
with his computer? Go for nicelong walks? Help in the garden?
Sailing has much to offer.Sadly man’s old enemy the wateris often safer than what man has
made of the streets.
All sorts and sizes of people sail.You don’t have to be taller,
stronger, thinner or, initially, evenfitter than the average. Boys and
girls have the same capability.
Sailing brings families together.Boats need to be transported andkids cannot drive. So driving toregattas at weekends becomes a
family activity.
This is not an exclusive world.40% of top sailors have parents
who do not sail themselves.
Why the Optimist?
It looks funny, doesn’t it?But Clark Mills knew a thing or
two about kids.
It doesn’t tip over! Beginnerseasily learn to balance them-
selves, the wind and the boat.It can’t run away with you! Let
out the only rope and the boatwill just sit there. The more water
gets in, the less it moves. And itwon’t sink.
Being alone in the boat is thequickest way to learn. Imaginetrying to learn to ride a bicycle
on a tandem with daddy!
You quickly learn from your ownmistakes and gain that essential
of sailing - and perhaps life -responsibility for your
own decisions.
Fifty five years ago in Clearwater, Florida a group of citizens wanted to stop their children getting bored. Sothey asked a local designer called Clark Mills to make aboat for kids to sail. The Optimist was born.
Fifty five years later his design is still being sailed by hun-dreds of thousands of young people in over a hundredcountries worldwide.
Truly this is the boat in which the young people of theworld learn to sail.
www.optiworld.org/ioda-intro.html
3
Oceania Distances in paradiseWhile sailing is as perfect inOceania as in the Caribbean,
distances are huge.Recognising that few of the
countries can afford to traveloutside the region, IODA has
fostered an Oceanian continentalchampionship.
This year it was hosted bySamoa and all nine member
countries participated:American Samoa
AustraliaCook Islands
FijiNew Zealand
Papua New GuineaSamoa
Solomon IslandsTahiti
Cook Islands an exampleThe Cook Islands are setting an
example of what can beachieved. New boats are
being bought - some with a 20% grant from
IODA -, older boats are being used to start fleets in the outer islands, and
sailing is developing fast.And now it is showing
in their results at the championship (see left).
Australia - at last?Eastern Australia has long been
the one area of the sailing world without Optimists.
However the experience of theSydney Olympics where ex-
Optimists scooped most of themedals has led to endorsementof the Class by the AustralianYachting Federation and it is
hoped that there will be anAustralian builder by
the year end.In the meantime the country
sent a full team to the Worlds for the first time.
21
IV IODA Oceanian Championship1. Teiki Hacheche Tahiti2. Corentin Guegan France*3. Gael Blanquart France*4. Ewen Morin Tahiti5. Sebastian Lescadieu France*6. Malo Lesaigneur France*7. Vaimiti Rigal Tahiti8. Scott Davies New Zealand9. Jan Sijp Cook Islands
10. Michael Langley New ZealandGirls
1. Vaimiti Rigal Tahiti2. Sally Whitmore Australia3. Sophie Merkens Cook Islands
* New Caledonia
National Associations Nearly 100 AssociationsWorldwide there are nearly 100
national associations affiliated to IODA.
It is they who ensure the healthand growth of the local Class.
Parents should not only join butshould offer their skills in the
service of these largely amateur bodies.
CalendarsRacing is most fun against sailors
of your own level of ability.Normally this means taking partin “open” regattas organised by
other clubs. National associationsco-ordinate and publish a calendar of these events.
TrialsAn important function of nationalassociations is to conduct the trial
races to select national teams.These are not just intended for
those who expect to qualify andin many countries are attended
by up to 200 sailors, sometimesselected from an even
bigger rank-list.In the northern hemisphere trialsoften start as soon as the weatherallows - so you can see Optimists
sailing while adults are stilltrying to find the paint-brush!
TrainingAll national associations organisetraining, and many co-ordinate a
programme of training camps and courses.
MeasurementCertification by builders that their
products conform to Class Ruleshas removed much of the
bureaucracy of measurement. Butboats and equipment still need to
be checked and this is animportant task of national
associations.Either they or the National
Sailing Association issue the sailnumber, essential before racing.
www.optiworld.org/ioda-members.html
Many run great websites!
4
Africa 2nd. African ChampionshipThe IODA African
Championship was created lastyear, with the first event being
held in Alexandria, Egypt.
This year’s championship inMorocco again received
magnificent support. EightAfrican member countries
participated:Algeria
EgyptKenya
MoroccoSeychelles
South AfricaTunisia
ZimbabweAll eight got at least one sailor
in the top half of the fleet!
Kenya’s reactionKenya were first time
participants - and were thereforesponsored by IODA with freeaccommodation, meals, entry
and charter boats.Their reaction was encouraging:
”We had a great time and ahuge learning experience. As
you can see we are getting keen-er and can see the great benefits
of competing regularly on theinternational scene.”
IODA helpWith this sort of reaction IODA
is willing to help sailing todevelop in Africa.
Free boats under the IODA “6 for 5” scheme,
together with coach-trainingand travel help are
available to any country seeking to establish or
enlarge an Optimist fleet.Priority is given to clubs and
organisations which guaranteeeasy access to the children of
non-sailors.
20
IODA African Championship1. Rudy McNeill South Africa 2. Bourai Tayeb Algeria3. Hamza Lboukli Morocco4. Aaron Larkens South Africa 5. Dina Ramadan Egypt6. Rania Ramadan Egypt7. Robert Gones South Africa8. Oudina Khaled Algeria9. Rana Ragab Egypt
10. Mahdi Abdelghani AlgeriaGirls1. Dina Ramadan Egypt2. Rania Ramadan Egypt3. Rana Ragab Egypt4. Philippa Baer South Africa5. Salma Ezzat Egypt
Team Ranking1. South Africa2. Egypt3. Morocco
What about the boat? The first thing you need togo sailing is a boat!
All the sameUnlike most sailboats the
Optimist is a true one-design.The boats are all the same. If youwant to race a boat where moneyor technology make a difference,
look elsewhere.Every builder is regularly
inspected to ensure that his hullsconform to tight tolerances anduses similar raw materials and
building techniques. But this does not mean a
monopoly or a cartel. Anyboatbuilder can build after he hassatisfied IODA that he is compe-tent to do so. Over thirty builders
in 23 countries have approval,
AccessoriesThere is greater choice of spars,
foils (daggerboard and rudder)and sails. The Optimist is used
for everything from teaching 8-year olds to world-class racing by
15-year olds. This is reflected inthe equipment available.
But by the time a sailors needstop-level gear he or she will beaddicted to their lifetime sport.
Price? Prices vary according to marketsbut a new hull ready to sail with
basic gear should not cost overUS$1,600 + sales taxes.
The lowest prices are paid bynational associations and clubs
who place orders for a number ofboats and invite tenders from
several manufacturers. Another good way to buy is to
look for boats which have beenchartered for major events.
Make it yourself For those with some practicalability it remains possible to
build your own wooden Optimist.
Your first Optimist will probably be older than you are,and possibly older than your parents!
Which is probably not true of your bicycle and certainlynot true of your computer. Optimists last for a very longtime. A 12 year old boat was placed in the top 20 at the1999 Europeans and the Italian boat below celebrated its22nd birthday this year. They never become obsolete.
So this is not a toy. When you want to change it you willfind plenty of buyers. This is a growing market and youwill be unlucky if its value falls by $500 a year.
And when you want to buy a new Optimist there are overthirty builders, all with boats just as fast as each other. Soin most parts of the world you can buy as good as the bestfrom a builder near you.
www.optiworld.org/ioda-technical.html
5
Asia Progress confirmed2001 was a shock to the
Optimist world. In the light airs of Qingdao Asian
sailors achieved great results.The “experts” shrugged.
Away from their “home waters”and in average winds they
would not show as well.
But at the 2002 Worlds in generally good winds Asian
sailors provided four of the top20, best girl again, and took
bronze in the team racing.Six Asian countries were
represented and five of them figured in the top
half of the nations ranklist.
Ten years of growthJust eight years ago only Japansent a full team to the OptimistWorlds. As elsewhere success
creates growth and growth creates success.
As the mission statement ofSingapore Sailing puts it, the
objective of participation is “to win honours for Singapore
and at the same time have themserve as role models for others to
join in the sport of sailing”.
and potential for moreEleven countries entered
Optimist teams at this year’sAsian Games. They too
will grow and there is yet morepotential. Sri Lanka is expanding
its fleet - with IODA help - and a fleet is being formed
in Vietnam.At the other end of the continent
in the Arabian Gulf over 200boats were imported last yearand two new regattas in Dubai
and Qatar are providing a focusfor the region.
BuildersTo supply this growing market
there are now four Asian builderswith a fifth expected shortly.
19
IODA Asian Championship1. Alvin Yeow Malaysia 2. Lian Cuixian China3. Ni Wei China4. Saki Goto Japan5. Teo Wee Chin Singapore6. Zhang Dongshuang China7. Colin Cheng Singapore8. Ahmad Hamilie Malaysia9. Nor Asyraf Malaysia
10. Chew Xian Jian Malaysia11. Gregory Ho Singapore12. Sarah Tan Singapore13. Hotaka Ishihara Japan14. Sandra Lili Yin Malaysia15. Wen Zijin ChinaGirls1. Lian Cuixian China2. Saki Goto Japan3. Zhang Dongshuang China4. Sarah Tan Singapore5. Sandra Lili Yin Malaysia
Team Racing1. Singapore2. China3. Malaysia
Helping newer fleets A wider worldIODA has doubled the number of
member national associationsover the last twelve years and is
committed to bringing the benefits of sailing to young people worldwide. It offers
limited financial aid to “newer countries”
in three areas.
Free boatsCountries seeking to start or
enlarge Optimist fleets canapply for one free boat for
every five bought. Alternatively help may be
given with sails, rigs etc. forwood/epoxy Optimists.
The boats may be bought fromany approved builder and
must be owned by an association, club or other
‘not for profit’ organisation.Countries which have benefitted
so far are St. Lucia, Barbados,theCook Islands, St. Vincent,
Samoa, Kenya and Nicaragua.
Coach-Training CoursesFor newer Optimist sailing
countries and regions IODA subsidises the travel and fees of
expert instructors to train local coaches.
In 2001/2002 six such courseswere held involving sixteen
countries, the most recent in the Arabian Gulf.
Regional regattasTo encourage participation inregional regattas IODA offers
free entry, charter and/or travelfor certain countries to send
sailors to continental and regional regattas.
Those benefitting in 2002included Kenya,
Papua New Guinea and the Seychelles.
www.optiworld.org/ioda-develop.html
6
South America Ideal conditionsWith both Buenos Aires and Rio
de Janeiro having strong sailing traditions, the Optimistarrived early in South America
and the continental championshipdates from 1973.
Spreading the wordUruguay and Chile were not far
behind and were followed by all the Latin American
countries, who regularly attendthe IODA South American
Championship at Easter. There are even Optimists up at
3000m on Lake Titicaca inBolivia.
Argentina . . . . and othersJust as in Optimist terms
the 70s belonged to Scandinavia, the 90s
belonged to Argentina. Five individual and four team-racing World golds
plus a monopoly on the South American championship is an impressive record.
But for the third year in succession the individual South
American championship went to their old rivals Brasil.
Peru took the World team-racingtitle for three successive years1997-1999 - within ten years
of first entering the event - andare now developing a strong
tradition of girls sailing.
Ecuador, which will host the2004 IODA World Champion-ship, may be the next to show
similar progress.
Three buildersSouth America has three
builders to satisfy the growingcontinental market, one in
Argentina and two in Brasil.
18
XXX South American Championship
Open SouthAmerican
1. Henrique Haddad Brasil 12. Pierluigi Alessio Italy3. Maria Pia Benavides Peru 24. Juliana Senfft Brasil 35. Matheus Dellagnelo Brasil 46. Andres Canessa Peru 57. Teddy Hale USA8. Erick Brockmann Mexico9. Jesse Kirkland Bermuda10. Bruno Faria Brasil 611. Diego Perea Peru 712. Edward Thompson Bermuda13. Gabriel Lorenzo Brasil 814. Philip Wender Brasil 915. Juan Pablo Cucalón Ecuador 1016. Felipe Graña Peru 1117. Gustavo Araripe Brasil 1218. Victoria Travascio Argentina 1319. Edoardo Mancinelli Italy20. Sebastián Peri Argentina 14
Girls1. Maria Pía Benavides Peru2. Juliana Senfft Brasil3. Victoria Travascio Argentina4. Nathalie Zimmermann Peru5. Tania Zimmermann Peru
Team Racing1. Peru 1 3. Argentina 22. Argentina 1 4. Ecuador
Racing TravelBoats have to be transported
and kids can’t drive. So parents can become full-time weekend
chauffeurs.A great idea is to alternate trips
with another parent. Then you have at least two kids to look after which stops you getting
obsessive about your own. And it is amazing what you will
learn about your children andtheir friends three hours into a
five hour car journey!
ParentsIt is very natural to want to help
your child, especially if you are asailor yourself, and to watch and
criticise his every move.It is also natural to question your
daughter’s first boy-friend ingreat detail. We recommend that
you don’t do either!Obsessive Optimist parents upset
the sailing community: thisis not a spectator sport and we
are not used to screaming fromthe sidelines!
The RulesThe rules of sailing must be
observed from the start. They areactually quite simple and are
taught as part of sailing. “If you look at competition at
junior level you find that rulesare often bent or forgotten with
the excuse that they are onlychildren. Just when do you
expect them to learn mannersor rules if not at this level”
(HRH The Princess RoyalMember, International Olympic
Committee)
A good way to learn more aboutthe rules if you have a computer
is by using a sailing simulator.Several are advertised on
the internet.
It is a small step from sailing round a triangle to trying todo it faster than the next person.
And it is a small step from racing in your own club to sailing at a regatta along the bay. All you need is access toa roof-rack or a trailer (and an adult who is willing todrive!)
7
Europe The second homeEurope was the second home of
the Optimist when it was import-ed to Denmark and modified.
For over twenty yearsScandinavian sailors dominated,
winning fourteen of the firsttwenty Worlds 1962-1982. But
when GRP and mass-productionarrived the rest of Europe became
competitive with fourteen countries winning gold over the
next 20 years.The changes in Eastern Europehave brought a big increase ininternational participation and
improving results, especiallyfrom the “new” Croatia and, inteam racing, a reviving Russia.
IODA Europeans The European Championship was
established in 1983 when theWorlds was in Brasil.
RegattasThe European regatta programme
is huge. Some of those with thehighest foreign entries are
Braassem, Garda and Portoroz at Easter, the Tomis Trophy in
Romania, and Carentecin Brittany.
Team-racing highlights are theRizzotti in Venice,the Europa
Cup in Berlin and the newGrand-Optical Cup for
club teams.And then there is the Christmas
programme . . . .
European BuildersEvery major (100+ boats)
national market except Germanynow has its own Optimist builder.23 builders in 17 countries supplyover 2,000 boats a year and most
sailors can buy direct from the producer. This also means that
government-funded orders, whichare increasingly important, can be
placed “at home”.
17
European Championship - GirlsOpen Euro1. Alessandra Ferlich Italy 12. Tina Mihelic Croatia 23. Maria Giovanna Sferez Italy 3 4. Enia Nincevic Croatia 45. Rebecka Harding Sweden 56. María Pía Benavides Peru7. Marieke Jongens Netherlands 68. Marina Peñate Lebail Spain 79. Eva Steirou Greece 8
10. Astrid Zweistra Netherlands 911. Daria Abramowicz Poland 1012. Lisa Ericson Sweden 1113. Marie Menaldo France 1214. Clara Pirán Argentina15. Yumi Takahashi Japan16. Jena Hansen Denmark 1317. Juliana Senfft Brasil18. Jasmin Mainka Germany 1419. Cecile Gutierrez France 1520. Claire Lasko G. Britain 16
European Championship - BoysOpen Euro1. Joaquín Blanco Spain 12. Dario Motta Italy 23. Pablo Santurde Spain 34. Francisco Renna Argentina5. Vagelis Polikandriotis Greece 46. Amit Brokman Israel 57. Claudio Canaccini Italy 68. Marcus Peterson Sweden 79. Guy Abadi Israel 8
10. Luis Miguel Perez Spain 911. Karol Jaczkowski Poland 1012. Sander van Bladel Netherlands 1113. Marcos Duarte Brasil14. Xristos Atzemian Greece 1215. José Tedin Argentina16. Takuya Oguri Japan17. Manuel Bologna Argentina18. David de Boltz G. Britain 1319. John Moulthrop U.S.A.20. Moshe Appel Israel 14
Team RacingTeam racing is hugely popular inOptimists.Maybe this is because it is a bit like arcadegames! The objective is to work with yourfriends to “zap” your opponents, all within theconstantly-changing maze that is the wind.Boatspeed matters less than quick thinking, abil-ity to handle your boat in close encounters andknowledge of the rules.Team racing is included in the IODA WorldChampionship and all the continental champi-onships except the Europeans.
Three great events in EuropeThe traditional highlights of the season in Europeare the Trofeo Rizzotti in Venice in May and theEuropean Team Cup in Berlin inOctober, both open to national andregional teams.A new event in 2002 is theGrandOptical Champions’ Cup inItaly. This event is open only tonational club champions and requireseach team to have won a nationalteam racing championship. The firstedition attracted 13 such teams andwill act as an incentive to other coun-tries to start national events. Entry, accommodation and charterare all free of charge due to a gener-ous 4-year sponsorship, and theprizes include four new Optimists.It is hoped to organise a similar Pan-American championship in the nearfuture.
A Russian speciality?The Russians are emerging as spe-cialists in this type of sailing, havingwon both Berlin 2001 and, throughthe historic Taganrog Y.C. from theBlack Sea, the GrandOptical.
Thanks to the umpiresTeam racing at the highest leveldepends on highly skilled umpiresand the Optimist world is grateful tothese specialists, many of them alsoinvolved in the Americas’ Cup!
8
Sailing for girls Together or separately?At Optimist age there is very
little difference in the physicalstrength of boys and girls -
indeed there is evidence that girls may be the stronger.
A pragmatic viewThe Optimist world accepts the
evidence as it is.Some girls are as good as or better than their brothers. In
recent years we have had twofemale open world champions.
So at the Worlds we race as onefleet, boys and girls together.
But we also find that only around15% of those selected on merit
for their national teams are girls.So at the open European
Championship we reserve threeplaces for girls and they sail as a
separate fleet.As a result nationally girls have
two targets: qualify for theWorlds by getting into the top
five, or concentrate on being oneof the best three girls.
Other culturesIt is often thought that sport for
girls faces extra problems in non-European societies. This is not
the Optimist experience.Sailing for girls seems to be
acceptable to all cultures andcreeds and, wherever Optimist
fleets start to develop, it is never long before the girls
realise that this activity is far too much fun to
allow themselves to be left out!
There are many theories about young women and sport. In the Optimist girls have a choice.
All regattas are open to both boys and girls, including theWorld Championship which has twice been won by a girl. But the Open European Championship has at least threeplaces per country reserved for girls and at that event theyrace separately.
9
North America U.S.A. - bringing it back homeHaving invented the Optimist the
U.S.A. almost ignored it!In the 70s only 300 boats were registered and in the 80s only
1,300. But since 1990 over11,000 boats have been registered
and growth is still accelerating.The spread has also been
geographical. In 1990 only sevenstates had serious fleets and
national teams were Floridan;there are now Optimists in at
least 35 states and the west coast is a growing market.
South (and north) of the borderCanada is one of the oldest and
most enthusiastic members ofIODA but climate seems to
delay success until sailors areolder (an ex-Optimist won the
ISAF Youth Worlds this year!).Mexico, who started Optimist
sailing in the late 80s, now haveover 450 registered boats with
over 60 at their nationals.Bermuda has experienced a
recent boom with rapidly improv-ing results at major events.
The Caribbean potentialThe potential in the Caribbean
with its constant winds and warmseas is gradually being realised.
Spreading outwards from theUSVI and the French Antilles,Optimists are now sailed in at
least twelve countries. The twogreat regattas are in Martinique
and St. Thomas.
and Central America?Encouraged by the fleet formed
a few years ago in GuatemalaIODA is pioneering the intro-duction of Optimists into theother countries in the region.
A pilot scheme is under way inNicaragua as we write, with
IODA grants for equipment andcoach-training.
16
IODA North American ChampionshipOpen N. Am.1. Jesse Kirkland Bermuda 12. Marco Grael Brasil3. Jonathan Hernandez Mexico 24. Alan Campbell U.S.A. 35. Geronimo Battista Argentina6. Kyle Rogachenko U.S.A. 47. Marcelo Cortese Argentina8. Wataru Komiya Japan9. Fernando Ines Argentina
10. Jackson Benvenutti U.S.A. 511. Alonso Facundo Argentina12. Edward Thompson Bermuda 613. Alex Bunt U.S.A. 714. Toshikazu Yokota Japan15. Erick Brockman Mexico 8
Girls1. Delfina Gainza Argentina2. Ana Zapola Argentina3. Cecilia Aragao Brasil4. Leigh Hammel U.S.A. 1
Team Racing1. Bermuda2. Mexico3. U.S.A.4. Argentina
IODA championships
In 2002 over 700 young sailors from 72nations represented their countries atIODA championships.
All six continentsWith the creation of an IODA
African Championship last yearthe Optimist became the first boat
class to organise, in addition toits Worlds, a championship on
each continent.
Achievable goalsYoung people need goals.
As local fleets develop, fromPuerto Rico to Papua New
Guinea, IODA aims to keep the sailors interested by
providing the achievable target of selection as part of a
national team. Who has notdreamed of representing
his or her country?
SelectionFrom the start of the first
Optimist championships in the60s and 70s teams to participate
in them have been selected on the basis of trials held
in the Optimist.
. . . . of as many as possibleBut, almost from the foundation
of the IODA EuropeanChampionship in 1983, the
Optimist Class took the unusual path of having
different sailors selected for different championships.
In this way most larger countries select at least
thirteen sailors each year fornational teams.
MemoriesTo represent your country is anunforgettable experience. Manyof those who participate in our
championships may never aspireto do so as adults. But they will
always be able to look back and say:
“I was an under-16 sailinginternational”.
15
The Championship Year in figures
Event Sailors Countries
Worlds 208 46Europeans 264 40S. Americans 168 13N. Americans 113 9Asians 54 8Oceanians 52 10Africans 43 8
International travel Other parts of the worldParents rightly believe that
experience of other countries andother cultures is a vital part
of education. But it can be difficult to organise.
Exchange visits and languageschools are often disappointing,and we have all seen at holidayhotels and campsites bored kids
just longing for some excitementand to meet new friends.
International regattasAt Optimist regattas you won’t
find many bored kids.Immediately they have a common
interest with the people of theirown age from different parts of
the world, and the excitement ofusing their existing skills in a
new environment.
CalendarThere are literally hundreds ofregattas worldwide to choose
from, almost all of them welcoming foreign sailors of all
levels of experience.At Easter thousands of young
sailors in the northern hemispherehead south to begin their sailing
year. In the summer those notselected for championships can
find a warm welcome at nationalevents which are almost always
open, such regattas as the TomisTrophy in Romania, Flanders
Youth Week, Carentec inBrittany, and the scores of
summer regattas in the USA.
and it’s so easyIf you can drive there, an
Optimist fits easily on the roof ofalmost any car. And if you can’t
there is a good chance of chartering or borrowing a boat
when you get there - just like theone at home!
Travel sells sailing!
In what has been described as “the age of instantgratification” with hundreds of other choices foryoung people, sailing cannot flourish if it is confinedto little regattas with the same sailors in the localclub.
International travel has been the growth industry ofrecent years and in sailing this has led to the boomin sailing holidays in the sun.
The Optimist, with its international network, hasmade use of this trend to offer opportunities to theyoung people of the world.
www.optiworld.org/ioda-02calendar.html
10
Some images of 2002
Heavy weather training - San Francisco
First of 12 wooden boats - Nicaragua
Umpiring at the Worlds
A club team- Ledro
Coaches’ pontoon - Ledro
Caribbean regatta
637 Optimists - Garda
40 Years of the IODA WorldsVenues and nations participating
1962 G. Britain 31963 Sweden 41964 Denmark 81965 Finland 91966 U.S.A. 61967 Austria 111968 France 141969 G. Britain 151970 Spain 141971 Germany 13
1972 Sweden 151974 Switzerland201975 Denmark 231976 Turkey 191977 Yugoslavia 221978 France 251979 Thailand 161980 Portugal 241981 Ireland 241982 Italy 30
1983 Brasil 221984 Canada 281985 Finland 321986 Spain 291987 Holland 291988 France 321989 Japan 301990 Portugal 381991 Greece 391992 Argentina 29
1993 Spain 411994 Italy 391995 Finland 411996 S. Africa 391997 N. Ireland 411998 Portugal 441999 Martinique 472000 Spain 592001 China 442002 U.S.A. 46
Top 10 - Statistics
Matika 1990 1.49 40 YesCesic 1988 1.63 43 NoZalvide 1987 1.60 47 NoKirkland 1988 1.53 46 YesLe Fevre 1987 1.68 48 YesXu 1987 1.70 54 NoDubbini 1988 1.65 49 YesZeni 1987 1.60 53 YesMills 1988 1.53 40 NoChew 1987 1.57 43 No
Miami Herald Trophy(Team Aggregate Scores - 4 sailors)
1. Italy 24. Puerto Rico2. Croatia 25. Mexico3. Argentina 26. Denmark4. Spain 27. Switzerland5. Brasil 28. Guatemala6. Singapore 29. Germany7. Peru 30. Belgium8. Japan 31. Ecuador9. China 32. Uruguay
10. Slovenia 33. Finland11. Sweden 34. Ireland12. Poland 35. Canada13. Great Britain 36. South Africa14. France 37. Korea15. Netherlands 38. Austria16. Malaysia 39. Chile17. New Zealand 40. Australia18. Thailand 41. Tahiti*19. Portugal 42. U.S.Virgin I.*20. U.S.A. 43. Barbados*21. Greece 44. Trinidad*22. Bermuda 45. Czech Rep.*23. Norway 46. Paraguay* * = incomplete teams
IODA World Championship1. Filip Matika Croatia2. Stjepan Cesic Croatia3. Eduardo Zalvide Lopez Spain4. Jesse Kirkland Bermuda5. Steven Le Fevre Netherlands6. Xu Lijia China7. Luca Dubbini Italy8. Fabio Zeni Italy9. Hannah Mills G. Britain
10. Chew Xian Jian Malaysia11. Teo Wee Chin Singapore12. Teiki Hacheche Tahiti13. Sebastian Peri Brusa Argentina14. Nik Pletikos Slovenia15. Victor Bergstrom Sweden16. Philip Wender Brasil17. Erick Brockmann Mexico18. Paolo Cattaneo Italy19. Gijs Pelt Netherlands20. Zhu Ye China
Girls1. Xu Lijia China2. Hannah Mills G. Britain3. Victoria Travascio Argentina4. Claire Ferchaud France5. Yoko Kiuchi Japan6. Tina Mrak Slovenia7. Nathalie Zimmermann Peru8. Katarzyna Pic Poland9. Maria Gracia Verand Peru
10. Tania Zimmermann Peru
World Team Racing Championship1. Argentina 5= Japan2. Croatia 5= Netherlands3. China 5= Peru4. G. Britain 5= Spain
remains the ultimate goal of Optimist racers
While IODA has recently encouraged the development
of continental and regional championships to facilitate
sailors worldwide, the Worlds remains the focal point of the year.
Each member country may send up to five sailors, qualified in
national trials, who race in six divisions to reduce
congestion on the start line.They are accompanied by
up to three adults
The best sixteen teams also compete in the IODA World Team Racing Championship.
The regatta has been held on all five continents. 2001 was
in China, 2002 in the U.S.A. and2003 and 2004 are planned forSpain and Ecuador respectively.
Our special millennium Worldsattracted sailors from 59 countries, a world
record for the most countries sailing the same boat in any
event in the history of sailing.
The 2002 Worlds attracted a “mere” 46 nations but that was still more than any other Class.
The age profile of the participants is:
14-1512-13
11-1210-11
ADT World Sailing ChampionshipCorpus Christi, Texas 3-14 July 2002
13-14