This document is the 2002 yearbook for the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA). The IODA works to promote and support the Optimist dinghy, a small sailboat used for youth sailing races around the world. The IODA coordinates youth sailing activities between member countries with the goals of providing affordable sailboat racing for young people. The yearbook lists IODA member countries and details international Optimist dinghy racing events and championships that took place in 2002.

1. Optimist
®
2002 Yearbook

2. 02INSIDECOVER 22/8/06 16:47 Page 1
The Optimist World Laser 4.7- Real Laser racing
at the youngest age
Antigua Austria Bahrain
Barbados Belarus Chin. Taipei
Bermuda Belgium China
Br. Virgin I. Bulgaria Hong Kong
Canada Croatia India
Cuba Cyprus Indonesia
G. Cayman Czech Rep. Japan
Grenada Denmark Korea
Guatemala Estonia Kuwait
Mexico Finland Kyrghyzstan
Neth. Antilles France Malaysia
Nicaragua Germany Myanmar
Puerto Rico Great Britain Pakistan
St. Lucia Greece Philippines
St. Vincent Hungary Qatar
Trinidad & T.
U.S.A.
Iceland
Ireland
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Be your own Boss
U.S. Virgin I. Israel Sailing a Laser 4.7 is your next important step
Laser 4.
7
Thailand
Italy towards independence, where you make the deci-
Uzbekistan
Argentina sions that really count. Move up to the Class Worldwide
Latvia Vietnam
Brasil that combines training
Lithuania U.A.E. by Olympic coaches
Colombia Malta with top youth racing. Performance Sailcraft
Chile Europe Ltd
Moldova The Laser 4.7 provides
Ecuador Monaco
American Samoa
real Laser racing at 6 Riverside Banbury
Australia Oxon UK OX165TL
Paraguay Netherlands the youngest age. +44(0)1295 268191
Peru Cook Islands info@lasersailing.com
Norway •The next step from www.lasersailing.com
Uruguay Fiji the Optimist
Poland
Venezuela Portugal
New Zealand •Class coaching
Romania
Papua N. Guinea structure with
Samoa Olympic coaches
Russia Vanguard Sailboats
Algeria Solomon Is. •Continued LaserCoach 300 Highpoint Avenue
San Marino Portsmouth RI 02871 USA
Angola Tahiti Laser 4.7 training
Slovakia info@teamvanguard.com
Egypt •Simply change the www.teamvanguard.com
Kenya
Slovenia
Attended Worlds 2002 lower mast and sail to
Spain progress to Laser Radial or Olympic Laser.
Mauritius Attended Continental 2002
Sweden Laser 4.7 World Championships 2002:
Morocco
Switzerland Other International Events 2002
Seychelles Holland (www.laser47worlds.nl)
Turkey Builds GRP Optimists
S. Africa
Ukraine Equipment/travel Grants
Tunisia
Yugoslavia Coaching course 1996-2002 To find out more about Laser 4.7
Zimbabwe and Formula Laser contact your
Italics = Not current members local Laser builder.
Three b o a t s : O n e
World Class

3. 24 1
IODA President:
René Kluin I.R.O. (NED) The Optimist To provide sailboat racing
for young people at low cost
Vice-Presidents: and
Growing like grass
David Booth (RSA)
To the sailing world the Optimist is like grass: such a Hans-Peter Bak (DEN) to co-ordinate youth work
universal phenomenon that one scarcely notices it! Peter Barclay (PER) From between member countries
The Optimist exists . . . . and that is all one can say.
but it is not as simple as that . . . Technical Comittee: These are the objectives of the
Hans Thijsse (RSA) - chairman International Optimist Dinghy
IODA, the International Optimist Dinghy Association, Luis Horta Moragas I.M. (ESP) Association.
works hard to nurture that universal phenomenon and Jens Juhl (DEN)
to create from the grass a well-maintained, level lawn - Nuno Reis I.M. (POR) This yearbook is an attempt to
a lawn fit for young people to play on. record how the IODA is
Regatta Committee: fulfilling its mission.
The One-Design project Michel Barbier I.R.O. (FRA) - chairman
Ten years ago the Optimist faced a problem. Boats Nazli Imre (TUR)
from some builders were faster than others or were Alen Kustic I.R.O. (CRO)
believed to be so and the price was spiralling upwards.
For three years IODA worked to re-introduce the one- International Measurers:
design principle. Today the result is boats so similar to Jean-Luc Gauthier I.M. (FRA)
David Harte I.M. (IRL)
each other that ten builders were represented in the top Yoshihiro Ishibashi I.M. (JPN)
20 at the Europeans. Local builders supply local Ms. Hyo-Kyung Jang I.M. (KOR)
markets. And boats cost at least 30% less than in 1990. Paolo Luciani I.M. (ITA)
Luis Horta Moragas I.M. (ESP)
Developing sailing worldwide Dr. Curly Morris I.M. (IRL)
The key to global development, IODA believes, is
continental and regional regattas, often linked to
Nuno Reis I.M. (POR)
Ralph Sjöholm I.M. (FIN)
to
coach-training. 1990 saw the first IODA Asian
Members of Honour:
Championship: the long-term effect on Asian sailing Viggo Jacobsen (President of Honour)
can be seen in the Worlds results. More recently we Lars Wallin
have fostered Oceanian and African Championships and Nigel Ringrose
regional regattas in the Caribbean and elsewhere. Erik C. Hansen
In 1989 49 countries were members of IODA and 38 Al Chandler
Jens Andersen
sent teams to IODA events. Today IODA has 99 Fred Kats
national members and 72 countries participated in Helen Mary Wilkes
our seven championships. Ralph Sjöholm
Norman Jenkins
Keeping it “child-friendly”
Competition yes, but competition tailored to the needs of Secretariat:
our young sailors. Commercialism, nationalism, and International Optimist Dinghy
discredited educational theories have all threatened the Association
Optimist. Balscadden View, Abbey St.
Howth, Dublin, Ireland
IODA works for the benefit through sailing of the young Secretary: Robert Wilkes Photo credits;
people of the world. Tel: +353-1-839 5587 yachtshots.com
Fax: +353-1-839 4528 in over 100 countries Ronnie Kiaulehn
We hope that these pages have shown how. e-mail: 100540.2646@compuserve.com Bob Nagy
Robert Wilkes

4. 2 23
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 World
Youth Match Racing
Championship, team raced at
university, and helmed the Farr
to 2nd. in Cowes Week.
A lifetime sport
Sailing is a lifetime sport where
those aged 8 to 80 are practising
the same skills. One of the tasks
of the Optimist Class is to
provide the sailors of the future.
Many will be content to sail at
club or national level. But for
those with the desire and talent
Internet disproves a myth the Optimist is the introduction to
the world of competitive
For years some have claimed, with little evidence, that international racing.
most successful Optimist sailors give up sailing when they
leave the Class. The Olympic route
Research made possible by the internet has now shown For the really dedicated the
that, from the sample year of 1994, at least 55% of Olympics remains the goal. At
Worlds participants are still sailing competitively six to the Sydney Olympics over 50%
eight years later. of all dinghy helms were
former Optimist sailors.
The Golden Book: ex-Optimist Olympic medallists Two of those who sailed in the
Ben Ainslie (GBR ) Thomas Johanson (FIN) 1994 Optimist Worlds have
Iain Percy (GBR ) Belinda Stowell (AUS) already made it, Gareth
Robert Scheidt (BRA) Mateusz Kusnierewicz (POL) Blanckenberg (RSA) and
Kristine Roug (DEN) Teresa Zabell (ESP) Tania Elias-Calles (MEX).
Evgeniy Braslovec (UKR) Fernando Leon (ESP) Many more will be there in 2004,
Jochen Schümann (GER) José Maria v.d. Ploeg (ESP)
Linda Andersen (NOR) Jordi Calafat (ESP) Not just the best in
Francisco Sanchez (ESP) Patricia Guerra (ESP)
Allison Jolly (USA) Luis Doreste (ESP)
Optimists
Domingo Manrique (ESP) Nicholas Henard (FRA) It is not just the best Optimist
Margriet Matthijsse (NED) Sebastian Godefroid (BEL) sailors who go on to greater
Yumiko Shige (JPN) Hans Wallen (SWE) things. Also in 1994 a certain
Georgiy Shayduka (RUS) Natalia Via Dufresne (ESP) Magalie Bonneau-Marcil (CAN)
Morgan Reeser (USA) Paul Foerster(USA) was 180th out of 181. Ten years
James Brady (USA) Peer Moberg (NOR) later she too may qualify for the
Javier Conte (ARG) Juan de la Fuente (ARG) Athens Olympics.
Rene Schwall (GER) Serena Amato (ARG)
Frederik Lööf (SWE) Hugo Rocha (POR)
Julia Trotman (USA) Tonu & Tomas Tuniste (EST)
PS: the helm is Mark Campbell-James.
And the Farr is managed by Ross
www.optiworld.org/ioda-oldboys.html Monson, another veteran
of the ’94 Worlds!

5. 22 3
The IODA website Let’s start at the Why sailing?
What is your child going to do
www.optiworld.org beginning this summer? Sit in his bedroom
with his computer? Go for nice
long walks? Help in the garden?
Sailing has much to offer.
Sadly man’s old enemy the water
is 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, even
fitter than the average. Boys and
girls have the same capability.
Sailing brings families together.
Boats need to be transported and
kids cannot drive. So driving to
regattas 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! Beginners
easily learn to balance them-
selves, the wind and the boat.
Fifty five years ago in Clearwater, Florida a group of It can’t run away with you! Let
out the only rope and the boat
citizens wanted to stop their children getting bored. So
will just sit there. The more water
they asked a local designer called Clark Mills to make a gets in, the less it moves. And it
boat for kids to sail. The Optimist was born. won’t sink.
Fifty five years later his design is still being sailed by hun- Being alone in the boat is the
dreds of thousands of young people in over a hundred quickest way to learn. Imagine
trying to learn to ride a bicycle
countries worldwide.
on a tandem with daddy!
Truly this is the boat in which the young people of the You quickly learn from your own
world learn to sail. mistakes and gain that essential
of sailing - and perhaps life -
responsibility for your
www.optiworld.org/ioda-intro.html own decisions.

6. 4 21
National Associations Nearly 100 Associations
Worldwide there are nearly 100 Oceania Distances in paradise
While sailing is as perfect in
national associations Oceania as in the Caribbean,
affiliated to IODA. distances are huge.
It is they who ensure the health Recognising that few of the
and growth of the local Class. countries can afford to travel
Parents should not only join but outside the region, IODA has
should offer their skills in the fostered an Oceanian continental
service of these largely championship.
amateur bodies. This year it was hosted by
Calendars Samoa and all nine member
Racing is most fun against sailors countries participated:
of your own level of ability. American Samoa
Normally this means taking part Australia
in “open” regattas organised by Cook Islands
other clubs. National associations Fiji
co-ordinate and publish a New Zealand
calendar of these events. Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Trials Solomon Islands
An important function of national Tahiti
associations is to conduct the trial
races to select national teams.
IV IODA Oceanian Championship Cook Islands an example
These are not just intended for 1. Teiki Hacheche Tahiti The Cook Islands are setting an
those who expect to qualify and 2. Corentin Guegan France* example of what can be
in many countries are attended 3. Gael Blanquart France* achieved. New boats are
by up to 200 sailors, sometimes 4. Ewen Morin Tahiti being bought - some
selected from an even 5. Sebastian Lescadieu France* with a 20% grant from
bigger rank-list. 6. Malo Lesaigneur France* IODA -, older boats are
Many run great websites! 7. Vaimiti Rigal Tahiti
In the northern hemisphere trials being used to start fleets
often start as soon as the weather 8. Scott Davies New Zealand in the outer islands, and
allows - so you can see Optimists 9. Jan Sijp Cook Islands sailing is developing fast.
sailing while adults are still 10. Michael Langley New Zealand And now it is showing
trying to find the paint-brush! Girls in their results at the
1. Vaimiti Rigal Tahiti championship (see left).
2. Sally Whitmore Australia
Training
3. Sophie Merkens Cook Islands
All national associations organise Australia - at last?
training, and many co-ordinate a * New Caledonia
Eastern Australia has long been
programme of training camps the one area of the sailing
and courses. world without Optimists.
However the experience of the
Measurement Sydney Olympics where ex-
Certification by builders that their Optimists scooped most of the
products conform to Class Rules medals has led to endorsement
has removed much of the of the Class by the Australian
bureaucracy of measurement. But Yachting Federation and it is
boats and equipment still need to hoped that there will be an
be checked and this is an Australian builder by
important task of national the year end.
associations. In the meantime the country
Either they or the National sent a full team to the Worlds
www.optiworld.org/ioda-members.html Sailing Association issue the sail for the first time.
number, essential before racing.

7. 20 5
The first thing you need to
Africa 2nd. African Championship
The IODA African What about the boat? go sailing is a boat!
Championship was created last
year, with the first event being All the same
held in Alexandria, Egypt. Unlike most sailboats the
Optimist is a true one-design.
This year’s championship in The boats are all the same. If you
Morocco again received want to race a boat where money
magnificent support. Eight or technology make a difference,
African member countries look elsewhere.
participated: Every builder is regularly
Algeria inspected to ensure that his hulls
Egypt conform to tight tolerances and
Kenya uses similar raw materials and
Morocco building techniques.
Seychelles But this does not mean a
South Africa monopoly or a cartel. Any
Tunisia boatbuilder can build after he has
Zimbabwe satisfied IODA that he is compe-
All eight got at least one sailor tent to do so. Over thirty builders
in the top half of the fleet! in 23 countries have approval,
IODA African Championship Your first Optimist will probably be older than you are,
1. Rudy McNeill South Africa Kenya’s reaction and possibly older than your parents! Accessories
2. Bourai Tayeb Algeria Kenya were first time There is greater choice of spars,
3. Hamza Lboukli Morocco
participants - and were therefore Which is probably not true of your bicycle and certainly foils (daggerboard and rudder)
4. Aaron Larkens South Africa
sponsored by IODA with free and sails. The Optimist is used
5. Dina Ramadan Egypt
accommodation, meals, entry
not true of your computer. Optimists last for a very long
for everything from teaching 8-
6. Rania Ramadan Egypt time. A 12 year old boat was placed in the top 20 at the
and charter boats. year olds to world-class racing by
7. Robert Gones South Africa 1999 Europeans and the Italian boat below celebrated its
Their reaction was encouraging: 15-year olds. This is reflected in
8. Oudina Khaled Algeria
9. Rana Ragab Egypt
”We had a great time and a 22nd birthday this year. They never become obsolete. the equipment available.
huge learning experience. As But by the time a sailors needs
10. Mahdi Abdelghani Algeria
you can see we are getting keen- So this is not a toy. When you want to change it you will top-level gear he or she will be
Girls
er and can see the great benefits addicted to their lifetime sport.
1. Dina Ramadan Egypt
of competing regularly on the
find plenty of buyers. This is a growing market and you
2. Rania Ramadan Egypt will be unlucky if its value falls by $500 a year.
international scene.” Price?
3. Rana Ragab Egypt
4. Philippa Baer South Africa Prices vary according to markets
5. Salma Ezzat Egypt
IODA help And when you want to buy a new Optimist there are over but a new hull ready to sail with
Team Ranking
With this sort of reaction IODA thirty builders, all with boats just as fast as each other. So basic gear should not cost over
is willing to help sailing to in most parts of the world you can buy as good as the best US$1,600 + sales taxes.
1. South Africa
develop in Africa. from a builder near you. The lowest prices are paid by
2. Egypt
Free boats under the national associations and clubs
3. Morocco
IODA “6 for 5” scheme, who place orders for a number of
together with coach-training boats and invite tenders from
and travel help are several manufacturers.
available to any country Another good way to buy is to
seeking to establish or look for boats which have been
enlarge an Optimist fleet. chartered for major events.
Priority is given to clubs and
organisations which guarantee Make it yourself
easy access to the children of For those with some practical
non-sailors. ability it remains possible to
www.optiworld.org/ioda-technical.html build your own wooden Optimist.

8. 6 19
Helping newer fleets A wider world
IODA has doubled the number of Asia Progress confirmed
2001 was a shock to the
member national associations Optimist world.
over the last twelve years and is In the light airs of Qingdao Asian
committed to bringing the sailors achieved great results.
benefits of sailing to young The “experts” shrugged.
people worldwide. It offers Away from their “home waters”
limited financial aid to and in average winds they
“newer countries” would not show as well.
in three areas. But at the 2002 Worlds in
generally good winds Asian
Free boats sailors provided four of the top
Countries seeking to start or 20, best girl again, and took
enlarge Optimist fleets can bronze in the team racing.
apply for one free boat for Six Asian countries were
every five bought. represented and five of
Alternatively help may be them figured in the top
given with sails, rigs etc. for half of the nations ranklist.
wood/epoxy Optimists.
The boats may be bought from Ten years of growth
any approved builder and Just eight years ago only Japan
must be owned by an sent a full team to the Optimist
association, club or other Worlds. As elsewhere success
‘not for profit’ organisation. creates growth and growth
Countries which have benefitted creates success.
so far are St. Lucia, Barbados,the As the mission statement of
Cook Islands, St. Vincent, IODA Asian Championship Singapore Sailing puts it, the
Samoa, Kenya and Nicaragua. 1. Alvin Yeow Malaysia objective of participation is
2. Lian Cuixian China “to win honours for Singapore
Coach-Training Courses 3. Ni Wei China and at the same time have them
For newer Optimist sailing 4. Saki Goto Japan serve as role models for others to
countries and regions IODA 5. Teo Wee Chin Singapore join in the sport of sailing”.
subsidises the travel and fees of 6. Zhang Dongshuang China
expert instructors to train 7. Colin Cheng Singapore and potential for more
local coaches. 8. Ahmad Hamilie Malaysia Eleven countries entered
In 2001/2002 six such courses 9. Nor Asyraf Malaysia Optimist teams at this year’s
were held involving sixteen 10. Chew Xian Jian Malaysia Asian Games. They too
countries, the most recent 11. Gregory Ho Singapore will grow and there is yet more
in the Arabian Gulf. 12. Sarah Tan Singapore potential. Sri Lanka is expanding
13. Hotaka Ishihara Japan its fleet - with IODA help -
14. Sandra Lili Yin Malaysia
Regional regattas and a fleet is being formed
15. Wen Zijin China in Vietnam.
To encourage participation in
Girls At the other end of the continent
regional regattas IODA offers
1. Lian Cuixian China in the Arabian Gulf over 200
free entry, charter and/or travel
2. Saki Goto Japan boats were imported last year
for certain countries to send
3. Zhang Dongshuang China and two new regattas in Dubai
sailors to continental and
4. Sarah Tan Singapore and Qatar are providing a focus
regional regattas.
5. Sandra Lili Yin Malaysia for the region.
Those benefitting in 2002
included Kenya, Team Racing
Papua New Guinea and 1. Singapore Builders
the Seychelles. 2. China To supply this growing market
www.optiworld.org/ioda-develop.html 3. Malaysia there are now four Asian builders
with a fifth expected shortly.

9. 18 7
South America Ideal conditions
With both Buenos Aires and Rio
Racing Travel
Boats have to be transported
de Janeiro having strong and kids can’t drive. So parents
sailing traditions, the Optimist can become full-time weekend
arrived early in South America chauffeurs.
and the continental championship A great idea is to alternate trips
dates from 1973. with another parent. Then you
have at least two kids to look
Spreading the word after which stops you getting
Uruguay and Chile were not far obsessive about your own.
behind and were followed And it is amazing what you will
by all the Latin American learn about your children and
countries, who regularly attend their friends three hours into a
the IODA South American five hour car journey!
Championship at Easter.
There are even Optimists up at Parents
3000m on Lake Titicaca in It is very natural to want to help
Bolivia. your child, especially if you are a
sailor yourself, and to watch and
Argentina . . . . and others criticise his every move.
Just as in Optimist terms It is also natural to question your
the 70s belonged to daughter’s first boy-friend in
Scandinavia, the 90s great detail. We recommend that
XXX South American Championship belonged to Argentina. you don’t do either!
Five individual and four Obsessive Optimist parents upset
Open South the sailing community: this
American team-racing World golds
plus a monopoly on is not a spectator sport and we
1. Henrique Haddad Brasil 1
2. Pierluigi Alessio Italy the South American are not used to screaming from
It is a small step from sailing round a triangle to trying to the sidelines!
3. Maria Pia Benavides Peru 2 championship is an
4. Juliana Senfft Brasil 3 do it faster than the next person.
impressive record.
5. Matheus Dellagnelo Brasil 4 The Rules
But for the third year in
6. Andres Canessa Peru 5 And it is a small step from racing in your own club to
succession the individual South The rules of sailing must be
7. Teddy Hale USA
8. Erick Brockmann Mexico American championship went sailing at a regatta along the bay. All you need is access to observed from the start. They are
9. Jesse Kirkland Bermuda to their old rivals Brasil. a roof-rack or a trailer (and an adult who is willing to actually quite simple and are
10. Bruno Faria Brasil 6 taught as part of sailing.
drive!)
11. Diego Perea Peru 7 Peru took the World team-racing “If you look at competition at
12. Edward Thompson Bermuda title for three successive years junior level you find that rules
13. Gabriel Lorenzo Brasil 8 are often bent or forgotten with
14. Philip Wender Brasil 9
1997-1999 - within ten years
15. Juan Pablo Cucalón Ecuador 10 of first entering the event - and the excuse that they are only
16. Felipe Graña Peru 11 are now developing a strong children. Just when do you
17. Gustavo Araripe Brasil 12 tradition of girls sailing. expect them to learn manners
18. Victoria Travascio Argentina 13 or rules if not at this level”
19. Edoardo Mancinelli Italy Ecuador, which will host the (HRH The Princess Royal
20. Sebastián Peri Argentina 14 Member, International Olympic
2004 IODA World Champion-
Girls ship, may be the next to show Committee)
1. Maria Pía Benavides Peru similar progress.
2. Juliana Senfft Brasil A good way to learn more about
3. Victoria Travascio Argentina
4. Nathalie Zimmermann Peru Three builders the rules if you have a computer
5. Tania Zimmermann Peru South America has three is by using a sailing simulator.
builders to satisfy the growing Several are advertised on
Team Racing
1. Peru 1 3. Argentina 2 continental market, one in the internet.
2. Argentina 1 4. Ecuador Argentina and two in Brasil.

10. 8 17
Team Racing Europe The second home
Europe was the second home of
the Optimist when it was import-
Team racing is hugely popular in ed to Denmark and modified.
Optimists. For over twenty years
European Championship - Boys
Maybe this is because it is a bit like arcade Scandinavian sailors dominated,
games! The objective is to work with your Open Euro
winning fourteen of the first
friends to “zap” your opponents, all within the 1. Joaquín Blanco Spain 1
twenty Worlds 1962-1982. But
constantly-changing maze that is the wind. 2. Dario Motta Italy 2
when GRP and mass-production
Boatspeed matters less than quick thinking, abil- 3. Pablo Santurde Spain 3
arrived the rest of Europe became
ity to handle your boat in close encounters and 4. Francisco Renna Argentina
competitive with fourteen
knowledge of the rules. 5. Vagelis Polikandriotis Greece 4
countries winning gold over the
Team racing is included in the IODA World 6. Amit Brokman Israel 5
next 20 years.
Championship and all the continental champi- 7. Claudio Canaccini Italy 6
The changes in Eastern Europe
onships except the Europeans. 8. Marcus Peterson Sweden 7
have brought a big increase in
9. Guy Abadi Israel 8
international participation and
10. Luis Miguel Perez Spain 9
Three great events in Europe improving results, especially
11. Karol Jaczkowski Poland 10
The traditional highlights of the season in Europe from the “new” Croatia and, in
12. Sander van Bladel Netherlands 11
are the Trofeo Rizzotti in Venice in May and the team racing, a reviving Russia.
13. Marcos Duarte Brasil
European Team Cup in Berlin in
14. Xristos Atzemian Greece 12
October, both open to national and
15. José Tedin Argentina IODA Europeans
regional teams. The European Championship was
16. Takuya Oguri Japan
A new event in 2002 is the established in 1983 when the
17. Manuel Bologna Argentina
GrandOptical Champions’ Cup in Worlds was in Brasil.
18. David de Boltz G. Britain 13
Italy. This event is open only to
19. John Moulthrop U.S.A.
national club champions and requires Regattas
20. Moshe Appel Israel 14
each team to have won a national The European regatta programme
team racing championship. The first is huge. Some of those with the
edition attracted 13 such teams and highest foreign entries are
will act as an incentive to other coun- Braassem, Garda and Portoroz
tries to start national events. European Championship - Girls at Easter, the Tomis Trophy in
Entry, accommodation and charter Open Euro Romania, and Carentec
are all free of charge due to a gener- 1. Alessandra Ferlich Italy 1 in Brittany.
ous 4-year sponsorship, and the 2. Tina Mihelic Croatia 2 Team-racing highlights are the
prizes include four new Optimists. 3. Maria Giovanna Sferez Italy 3 Rizzotti in Venice,the Europa
It is hoped to organise a similar Pan- 4. Enia Nincevic Croatia 4 Cup in Berlin and the new
American championship in the near 5. Rebecka Harding Sweden 5 Grand-Optical Cup for
future. 6. María Pía Benavides Peru club teams.
7. Marieke Jongens Netherlands 6 And then there is the Christmas
A Russian speciality? 8. Marina Peñate Lebail Spain 7 programme . . . .
The Russians are emerging as spe- 9. Eva Steirou Greece 8
cialists in this type of sailing, having 10. Astrid Zweistra Netherlands 9
won both Berlin 2001 and, through
European Builders
11. Daria Abramowicz Poland 10 Every major (100+ boats)
the historic Taganrog Y.C. from the 12. Lisa Ericson Sweden 11
Black Sea, the GrandOptical. national market except Germany
13. Marie Menaldo France 12 now has its own Optimist builder.
14. Clara Pirán Argentina 23 builders in 17 countries supply
Thanks to the umpires 15. Yumi Takahashi Japan over 2,000 boats a year and most
Team racing at the highest level 16. Jena Hansen Denmark 13 sailors can buy direct from the
depends on highly skilled umpires 17. Juliana Senfft Brasil producer. This also means that
and the Optimist world is grateful to 18. Jasmin Mainka Germany 14 government-funded orders, which
these specialists, many of them also 19. Cecile Gutierrez France 15 are increasingly important, can be
involved in the Americas’ Cup! 20. Claire Lasko G. Britain 16 placed “at home”.

11. 16 9
North America U.S.A. - bringing it back home
Having invented the Optimist the Sailing for girls Together or separately?
At Optimist age there is very
U.S.A. almost ignored it! little difference in the physical
In the 70s only 300 boats were strength of boys and girls -
registered and in the 80s only indeed there is evidence that
1,300. But since 1990 over girls may be the stronger.
11,000 boats have been registered
and growth is still accelerating. A pragmatic view
The spread has also been The Optimist world accepts the
geographical. In 1990 only seven evidence as it is.
states had serious fleets and Some girls are as good as or
national teams were Floridan; better than their brothers. In
there are now Optimists in at recent years we have had two
least 35 states and the west female open world champions.
coast is a growing market. So at the Worlds we race as one
fleet, boys and girls together.
South (and north) of the border
Canada is one of the oldest and But we also find that only around
most enthusiastic members of 15% of those selected on merit
IODA but climate seems to for their national teams are girls.
delay success until sailors are So at the open European
older (an ex-Optimist won the Championship we reserve three
ISAF Youth Worlds this year!). places for girls and they sail as a
Mexico, who started Optimist There are many theories about young women and sport. separate fleet.
sailing in the late 80s, now have In the Optimist girls have a choice. As a result nationally girls have
over 450 registered boats with two targets: qualify for the
over 60 at their nationals. All regattas are open to both boys and girls, including the Worlds by getting into the top
IODA North American Championship Bermuda has experienced a World Championship which has twice been won by a girl. five, or concentrate on being one
Open N. Am. recent boom with rapidly improv- of the best three girls.
ing results at major events.
But the Open European Championship has at least three
1. Jesse Kirkland Bermuda 1
2. Marco Grael Brasil
places per country reserved for girls and at that event they Other cultures
3. Jonathan Hernandez Mexico 2 The Caribbean potential race separately. It is often thought that sport for
4. Alan Campbell U.S.A. 3 The potential in the Caribbean girls faces extra problems in non-
5. Geronimo Battista Argentina European societies. This is not
6. Kyle Rogachenko U.S.A. 4 with its constant winds and warm
7. Marcelo Cortese Argentina seas is gradually being realised. the Optimist experience.
8. Wataru Komiya Japan Spreading outwards from the Sailing for girls seems to be
9. Fernando Ines Argentina USVI and the French Antilles, acceptable to all cultures and
10. Jackson Benvenutti U.S.A. 5 Optimists are now sailed in at creeds and, wherever Optimist
11. Alonso Facundo Argentina least twelve countries. The two fleets start to develop, it
12. Edward Thompson Bermuda 6 great regattas are in Martinique is never long before the girls
13. Alex Bunt U.S.A. 7 realise that this activity
and St. Thomas.
14. Toshikazu Yokota Japan
is far too much fun to
15. Erick Brockman Mexico 8
and Central America? allow themselves to be
Girls left out!
1. Delfina Gainza Argentina Encouraged by the fleet formed
2. Ana Zapola Argentina a few years ago in Guatemala
3. Cecilia Aragao Brasil IODA is pioneering the intro-
4. Leigh Hammel U.S.A. 1 duction of Optimists into the
Team Racing other countries in the region.
1. Bermuda A pilot scheme is under way in
2. Mexico Nicaragua as we write, with
3. U.S.A. IODA grants for equipment and
4. Argentina coach-training.

12. 10 15
International travel Other parts of the world
Parents rightly believe that IODA championships All six continents
With the creation of an IODA
experience of other countries and African Championship last year
other cultures is a vital part the Optimist became the first boat
of education. class to organise, in addition to
But it can be difficult to organise. In 2002 over 700 young sailors from 72 its Worlds, a championship on
Exchange visits and language nations represented their countries at each continent.
schools are often disappointing,
and we have all seen at holiday IODA championships. Achievable goals
hotels and campsites bored kids Young people need goals.
just longing for some excitement As local fleets develop, from
and to meet new friends. Puerto Rico to Papua New
Guinea, IODA aims to
International regattas keep the sailors interested by
At Optimist regattas you won’t providing the achievable
find many bored kids. target of selection as part of a
Immediately they have a common national team. Who has not
interest with the people of their dreamed of representing
own age from different parts of his or her country?
the world, and the excitement of
using their existing skills in a Selection
new environment. From the start of the first
Optimist championships in the
Calendar 60s and 70s teams to participate
There are literally hundreds of in them have been selected
regattas worldwide to choose on the basis of trials held
from, almost all of them in the Optimist.
welcoming foreign sailors of all
levels of experience. . . . . of as many as possible
At Easter thousands of young But, almost from the foundation
sailors in the northern hemisphere of the IODA European
Travel sells sailing! head south to begin their sailing Championship in 1983, the
year. In the summer those not Optimist Class took
In what has been described as “the age of instant selected for championships can the unusual path of having
gratification” with hundreds of other choices for find a warm welcome at national different sailors selected for
young people, sailing cannot flourish if it is confined events which are almost always different championships.
to little regattas with the same sailors in the local open, such regattas as the Tomis In this way most larger
Trophy in Romania, Flanders countries select at least
club. Youth Week, Carentec in thirteen sailors each year for
Brittany, and the scores of national teams.
International travel has been the growth industry of summer regattas in the USA. The Championship Year in figures Memories
recent years and in sailing this has led to the boom To represent your country is an
in sailing holidays in the sun. and it’s so easy Event Sailors Countries unforgettable experience. Many
If you can drive there, an of those who participate in our
The Optimist, with its international network, has Optimist fits easily on the roof of Worlds 208 46 championships may never aspire
almost any car. And if you can’t Europeans 264 40 to do so as adults. But they will
made use of this trend to offer opportunities to the there is a good chance of S. Americans 168 13 always be able to look back
young people of the world. chartering or borrowing a boat N. Americans 113 9 and say:
when you get there - just like the Asians 54 8 “I was an under-16 sailing
one at home! Oceanians 52 10 international”.
Africans 43 8
www.optiworld.org/ioda-02calendar.html

13. IODA World Championship
1. Filip Matika Croatia
Miami Herald Trophy
(Team Aggregate Scores - 4 sailors)
Some images of 2002
2. Stjepan Cesic Croatia 1. Italy 24. Puerto Rico
3. Eduardo Zalvide Lopez Spain 2. Croatia 25. Mexico
4. Jesse Kirkland Bermuda 3. Argentina 26. Denmark
5. Steven Le Fevre Netherlands 4. Spain 27. Switzerland
6. Xu Lijia China 5. Brasil 28. Guatemala
7. Luca Dubbini Italy 6. Singapore 29. Germany
8. Fabio Zeni Italy 7. Peru 30. Belgium
9. Hannah Mills G. Britain 8. Japan 31. Ecuador
10. Chew Xian Jian Malaysia 9. China 32. Uruguay
11. Teo Wee Chin Singapore 10. Slovenia 33. Finland
12. Teiki Hacheche Tahiti 11. Sweden 34. Ireland
13. Sebastian Peri Brusa Argentina 12. Poland 35. Canada
13. Great Britain 36. South Africa Heavy weather training - San Francisco
14. Nik Pletikos Slovenia
15. Victor Bergstrom Sweden 14. France 37. Korea
16. Philip Wender Brasil 15. Netherlands 38. Austria
17. Erick Brockmann Mexico 16. Malaysia 39. Chile
17. New Zealand 40. Australia Caribbean regatta
18. Paolo Cattaneo Italy
18. Thailand 41. Tahiti*
19. Gijs Pelt Netherlands
19. Portugal 42. U.S.Virgin I.*
20. Zhu Ye China
20. U.S.A. 43. Barbados*
21. Greece 44. Trinidad*
Girls 22. Bermuda 45. Czech Rep.*
1. Xu Lijia China 23. Norway 46. Paraguay*
2. Hannah Mills G. Britain * = incomplete teams First of 12 wooden boats - Nicaragua
3. Victoria Travascio Argentina
4. Claire Ferchaud France Top 10 - Statistics A club team
5. Yoko Kiuchi Japan - Ledro
6. Tina Mrak Slovenia
7. Nathalie Zimmermann Peru Matika 1990 1.49 40 Yes
8. Katarzyna Pic Poland Cesic 1988 1.63 43 No
9. Maria Gracia Verand Peru Zalvide 1987 1.60 47 No
10. Tania Zimmermann Peru Kirkland 1988 1.53 46 Yes
Le Fevre 1987 1.68 48 Yes
World Team Racing Championship Xu 1987 1.70 54 No
1. Argentina 5= Japan Dubbini 1988 1.65 49 Yes
2. Croatia 5= Netherlands Zeni 1987 1.60 53 Yes
3. China 5= Peru Coaches’ pontoon - Ledro
Mills 1988 1.53 40 No Umpiring at the Worlds
4. G. Britain 5= Spain 637 Optimists - Garda
Chew 1987 1.57 43 No
40 Years of the IODA Worlds
Venues and nations participating
1962 G. Britain 3 1972 Sweden 15 1983 Brasil 22 1993 Spain 41
1963 Sweden 4 1974 Switzerland20 1984 Canada 28 1994 Italy 39
1964 Denmark 8 1975 Denmark 23 1985 Finland 32 1995 Finland 41
1965 Finland 9 1976 Turkey 19 1986 Spain 29 1996 S. Africa 39
1966 U.S.A. 6 1977 Yugoslavia 22 1987 Holland 29 1997 N. Ireland 41
1967 Austria 11 1978 France 25 1988 France 32 1998 Portugal 44
1968 France 14 1979 Thailand 16 1989 Japan 30 1999 Martinique 47
1969 G. Britain 15 1980 Portugal 24 1990 Portugal 38 2000 Spain 59
1970 Spain 14 1981 Ireland 24 1991 Greece 39 2001 China 44
1971 Germany 13 1982 Italy 30 1992 Argentina 29 2002 U.S.A. 46

14. remains the ultimate goal of
ADT World Sailing Championship Optimist racers
While IODA has recently
Corpus Christi, Texas 3-14 July 2002 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. and
2003 and 2004 are planned for
Spain and Ecuador respectively.
Our special millennium Worlds
attracted 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:
10-11
11-12
12-13 14-15
13-14