The document provides a summary of the history and objectives of the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA). It discusses how: 1) In 1947, Clark Mills created the Optimist dinghy in Clearwater, Florida to provide sailing activities for local children. This led to the dinghy spreading internationally starting in the 1960s. 2) The IODA was formed in 1965 with seven national members to coordinate youth sailing between countries and provide racing at low cost. 3) By the 1990s, the IODA worked to establish the Optimist as a strict one-design class with a tight specification to ensure consistency across builders. 4) Highlights from 2005 included good sailing conditions

1. Optimist
R
Yearbook 2005

2. The Optimist World The Optimist To provide sailboat racing
for young people at low cost
North America Europe Asia and
Anguilla l Austria l l China l l l
Bahamas l Belarus l Chin. Taipei l to co-ordinate youth work
Barbados l Belgium l l Hong Kong l From between member countries
Bermuda l l Bulgaria l l l India l l
Br. Virgin I. Croatia l l Indonesia l These are the objectives of the
Canada l l Cyprus Japan l l International Optimist Dinghy
Cuba Czech Rep. l l l Korea l Association.
Dominican R. l l l Denmark l l l Kuwait
El Salvador l Estonia l l l Malaysia l l This yearbook is an attempt to
G. Cayman Finland l l l Myanmar l record how the IODA is
Grenada l France l l l Pakistan l fulfilling its mission.
Guatemala l Germany l l Qatar l l
Mexico l l Georgia Singapore l l l
Net. Antilles l l l Great Britain l l l Sri Lanka l l
Nicaragua Greece l l l Thailand l
Puerto Rico l l Hungary l l l U.A.Emirates
St. Lucia Iceland
St. Vincent l l Ireland l l l Africa
Trinidad & T. l l Israel l Algeria l
U.S.A. l l l Italy l l l Angola
U.S. Virgin I. Latvia Egypt l
l l
Lithuania
l
l Kenya l
to
South America Malta l Mauritius l l
Argentina l l l Monaco l
Brasil l l l Netherlands l l l Morocco
Colombia l Norway l l Seychelles
Chile l l Poland l l l S. Africa l l
Ecuador l l Portugal l l l Tanzania l l
Paraguay l Russia l l Tunisia
Peru l l San Marino Uganda l
Uruguay l l Serbia/M. l l l Zimbabwe
Venezuela l l l Slovakia l l
Slovenia l l l Oceania
Spain l l l Australia l l
Sweden l l l Cook Islands l
Switzerland l l Fiji
Turkey l l New Zealand l l
Ukraine l Papua NG
Samoa l l
Members 105 Solomon Is. l in over 110 countries
Tahiti l l
l Attended 2005 IODA World Sailing Championship 52
Vanuatu
l Attended most recent IODA Continental Championship 80 l
l Built GRP Optimists 2004/5 23
l Received IODA training & development grants 2004/5 16

3. 2 3
A little history Clark Mills
Fifty eight years ago in
Clearwater Florida a group of
citizens wanted to stop local
children getting bored and asked
boatbuilder Clark Mills to make
a boat for kids to sail.
The Optimist was born.
International
Following the spread of the
Optimist to Europe, initially
through Axel Damsgaard of
Denmark, the first international
regatta was held in England in
1962 with sailors from
Denmark, Sweden and
1947 - the original Optimist the host nation.
Beginning a trend that was to
develop beyond anyone’s
dreams, the silver medallist
Peter Due was to win an
Olympic medal 18 years later.
IODA
The International Optimist
Dinghy Association was formed
just three years later in 1965 in
Finland with seven national
members including the U.S.A.
Viggo Jacobsen of Denmark
was the first of only five
presidents who have
headed the Class since.
1973 - already in Argentina International Class
In 1973 IODA was recognised
by the International Yacht
Racing Union (now the ISAF).
Fourteen countries on four
continents supported the
application.
Strict One-Design
By 1992 the Optimist was
drifting away from its
one-design principle.
Three years of hard work
developed a tight specification
which could be built to exactly
the same standard by any
competent GRP boat builder.
1996 - one of the earliest strict one-designs

4. 4 5
Highlights of 2005 Great conditions
Winds for most of our major
championships in 2005 were
some of the best in recent years.
After a generally disappointing
Easter, the venues in Tobago,
Gdynia, Silvaplana and
Dar es Salaam all produced at
least some days perfect
for sailing
Tina won
Tina Lutz from the Chiemsee in
Bavaria became only the third
girl to win gold in the 43 year
history of our Worlds.
She is also only the second
German to win a medal and led
her team-mates to the Miami
Herald team aggregate prize
by a margin of nearly 50%.
North Americans in the
Caribbean
The IODA North American
Championship, held for the first
time in the Caribbean on the
beautiful island of Tobago was an
outstanding success.
Numbers were over 50% higher
than 2004 and seven Caribbean
countries participated.
Africans in Tanzania
Our African championship is one
of the most difficult to organise
but Dar es Salaam Yacht Club
put on a tremendous show with
participants from seven
African countries.
Growth in Regattas
Not only were new records set at
our championships, ‘unofficial’
regattas such as the Dubai Inter-
national, Portoroz Easter and the
Malta Euromed continue to grow.
Booming sales
After record 2004 sales of over
4,000 boats, 2005 is also
looking good.

5. 6 7
Strict one-design
Racing is the core activity
of the Optimist Class
Racing for young people at low cost All Optimists are built to the
Learning to sail is obviously same specification. Any boat-
Make of hull used to qualify builder can build after he has
the first step but in most Racing starts almost as soon
by sailors at the Worlds. satisfied IODA that he is
countries this can be safely left as a novice learns to sail. No one builder had more than
to clubs and sailing schools competent to do so, leading
16% of the market and 40% of
under the direction of National to keen competition.
sailors had used a hull produced
Sailing Associations. Linking Nearly forty builders in 22
in their own country.
schools and clubs can be an countries on five continents
important step. have approval.
Class Rules
Club racing: where it starts
The new one-design rudder Tight Class Rules control the
It is a small step from sailing
Great yacht clubs foster introduced in 2005 specification of hull
round a triangle to trying to do
Optimist racing. Daggerboards were also and equipment.
it faster than the next person.
RCN Gran Canaria - home of standardised. In 2005 these were extended to
Good instructors will ensure
Olympic champions the rudder and daggerboard.
that this step is taken under
Greater freedom is allowed on
carefully controlled conditions.
choice of sails but these too are
Club racing is at the heart of
tightly controlled.
sailing: strong clubs usually
produce the best sailors.
Measurement
Sail measurement at the All boats and equipment are
National Regattas North Americans.
Racing against sailors from National competition is certified to comply with the
190 sails in three days!
other clubs is the next step. usually co-ordinated by the rules by independent
National Optimist Associations national Optimist inspectors.
co-ordinate calendars, organise associations. This is reinforced at major
selection trials and usually the events by re-inspection by
national championship. IODA’s team of International
Measurers.
International Regattas
The chance to sail - and meet - Transport Costs
Charter reduces the cost of
with people of your own age While the Optimist is easily
international competition.
from different parts of the Reloading some of the 110 hulls transported, there is
International competition often no need.
world is a major attraction. attracts thousands of sailors supplied by Winner for the
With travel ever cheaper and Worlds. Identical specification world-
a year. wide means that competitive
charter boats widely available, FV Riva del Garda hosts the
thousands participate in foreign boats can be chartered at all
biggest
regattas at all levels. IODA championships and
many major events.
IODA Championships
The great incentive is the Subsidised Events
chance to represent your At IODA championships the
country at the IODA World or entry fee covers all accommo-
Entry to IODA champion- dation and meals as well as
continental championships. Qualifying for IODA’s world ships is heavily subsidised racing as a fixed package.
Since in general each sailor is and continental champi- Nivea, sponsors of the 2005 The generosity of sponsors and
only permitted to participate in onships is a major incentive. European Championship. the effect of big regattas on the
one or two such events, some
700-800 young people get this local tourist industry mean that
unforgettable experience each the costs of these events is
year. heavily subsidised.

6. 8 9
Christmas More regattas needed Garda Meeting
Some regattas Trofeo Ciutat de Palma
Palma de Mallorca, Spain 4-7 Dec. Qualification trials are the big incentive for Optimist sailors. But it is
Italy 24-27 March
586 sailors from 21 countries
268 sailors from 8 countries great if as many as possible can qualify for something. 1. Martino Tortarolo ITA
No Grand Prix! 1. Lukasz Przybtek POL 2. Federico Macari ITA
Unlike later sailing and indeed many other sports at this age, there is no As both the number and size of national Optimist fleets has grown and as
2. Wojtek Zemke POL 3. Fabian Kaske GER
ranklist, Grand Prix or circuit in the Optimist Class. travel gets cheaper, there is an increasing need for more big well-
3. Kacper Staniul POL 4. Tina Lutz GER
organised regattas particularly in the long holidays. National associations 5. Kacper Staniul POL
Many parents (and even more schoolteachers!) would not accept that you 4. Marino Tortarolo ITA
can then make up third, fourth or whatever teams to give even more
have to go to a certain event on a certain date. Most sailors who do compete 5. Thijs Groot NED
sailors the chance of competing abroad. Portoroz
abroad do so during the Easter and Christmas holidays. Slovenia 9-11 Apr.
Malta Euromed
Many of these events are more like ‘winter breaks” with groups of families Malta 17-20 Dec. 342 sailors from 10 countries
teaming up to take their children on an alternative to a skiing holiday. Club 86 sailors from 11 countries 1. Jacek Sierzputowski POL
coaches too enjoy a not-too-serious working holiday in the sun. 1. Henrik Grim SWE Flanders Youth 2. Mateusz Kolata POL
2. Benjie Borg MLT 3. Andraz Gulic SLO
Nor is it necessary to compete at frequent international events in order to do Regatta - we
3. Lorenzo Piccioni ITA 4. Marios Petrogonas GRE
well. need more like
4. William Camilleri MLT 5. Vassilis Tsokaras GRE
it
5. Nicolas Wallin SWE
Optispring
XL Capital Invitational Netherlands 17-18 Apr.
Bermuda 19-22 Dec. 159 sailors from 5 countries
73 sailors from 13 countries 1. Magnus Kældsø DEN
1. Filip Matika CRO 2. Maarten Dagelet NED
Bahamas group - 2. Oliver Riihiluoma BER 3. Dirk Bennen NED
3. Kacper Zieminski POL 4. Christian Andersen DEN
first outing to the
4. Theofanis Kavas GRE 5. Mathieu Willemart BEL
Orange Bowl
5. Sean Bouchard BER IODA cannot (and does not want to!) dictate who goes where but organis-
ers are warmly invited to send details of truly international events, prefer- Other
Orange Bowl ably with charter boats available, for inclusion on the IODA Calendar at Dubai International
Miami, USA 26-30 Dec. www.optiworld.org/ioda-06calendar.html U.A.Emirates 23-30 Jan.
284 sailors from 11 countries 75 sailors from 14 countries
1. Oliver Riihiluoma BER 1. Karin Alkstedt SWE
2. Arantza Gumuchio CHI Team Racing Events 2. Carl Strombeck SWE
3. Sean Moynahan USA 3. Jes Lyhne Bonde DEN
Team Racing is hugely popular in the Optimist and is included in all
4. Gonzalo Picco PER 4. Adam Johansson SWE
5. Austen Anderson USA continental championships except the European.
5. Jacob Lundqvist SWE
Instead in Europe three European events have developed, each with
Meeting Int. del Mediterraneo different entry criteria. In 2005 the Poles won all three! Schoelcher International
San Remo, Italy 28-30 Dec. Earliest is the Trofeo Marco Rizzotti in the Venice lagoon in May. Martinique 5-9 Feb.
67 sailors from 3 countries Open to regional and national teams, the 2005 event attracted eight countries. 75 sailors from 7 countries
Spring sunshine on 1. Paolo Cattaneo ITA Result: 1. Poland 2. Italy 3. Germany 4. Lombardy 1. Matthew Scott TRI
Lake Garda 2. Manu Deceuninck FRA 2. Vincent Berthez FRA
3. Sophiam Bouvet FRA 3. Yvann Thelier FRA
4. Aymeric Arthaud FRA
Unique is the GrandOptical Champions Cup in Valle di Ledro, Italy.
4. Alexander Zimmermann PER
5. Adrian Gremaud SUI 5. Valentin Lemarchand FRA
Trofeo Campobasso Scotiabank Caribbean International
Naples, Italy 4-6 Jan. U.S.Virgin Islands 16-19 June
127 sailors from 12 countries 75 sailors from 7 countries
1. Federica Wetzl ITA 1. Ian Liberty USA
2. Giovanni Magliulo ITA 2. Suzy Reynolds USA
3. Leo Dubbini ITA 3. Haley Powell BER
4. Federico Cattaneo ITA 4. Ivan Aponte PUR
5. Luca Paolillo ITA 5. Alec Anderson IVB
This event is open only to the champion club teams of European coun-
tries which run national inter-club team racing championships. Fourteen
Malta Euromed: Easter such teams entered in 2005 and results were:
Flanders Youth Regatta
charter easily Magic Marine, Braassemermeer Nieuwpoort, Belgium 2-6 July
1. Mos Ilawa (POL) 2. Hjuviks Y.C. (SWE) 3. N.C. Piraeus (GRE) 71 sailors from 7 countries
available Netherlands 25-28 March
269 sailors from 11 countries
The sponsorship contract for this event has been renewed for four years. 1. Rufina Tan Hong Mui MAS
1. Afrodite Kyranakou GRE 2. Fazani bin Yahaya MAS
2. Jacob Lundqvist SWE Finally in October Berlin hosts the Opti Team Cup. 2005 results are not 3. Hermann Tomasgaard SWE
3. Carl Strombeck SWE yet available but the 2004 event saw 16 teams from 14 countries. 4. Guus Disselhorst NED
4. Philip Sparks GBR Result: 1. Poland 2. Italy 3. Sweden 4. Russia 5. Nina Keijzer NED
5. Matthew Rainback GBR

7. 10 11
All six continents
2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2004 IODA championships With the creation of an IODA
African Championship in 2001
In 2005 over 850 young sailors from 80 countries will have
the Optimist became the first boat
represented their countries at IODA championships.
class to organise, in addition to
its Worlds, a championship on
each continent, though the
Oceanians is held only biennially.
Behind the figures
The 2005 Worlds saw a new
“normal Worlds” record of 52
countries entered. The absolute
record remains with the 59 at the
Millennium Worlds of 2000
which gave free entry to
many teams.
At the Europeans team size has
been reduced to seven sailors per
European team but a record
The Championship Year in figures and ten years ago
33 of IODA’s 37 European
members attended
Event Sailors Countries Sailors Countries
The North Americans, in the
Caribbean for the first time, had
Worlds 241 52 186 41
numbers up 50% from 2004,
Europeans 232 41 254 38
boosted by seven
N. Americans 183 18 151 9
Caribbean countries.
S. Americans 172 15 134 10
The Africans, again in the virgin
Asians 102* 14* 68 10
territory of Tanzania, attracted
Africans 60 10 None
eight African teams.
Oceanians Held in even years None
Record participation is expected
850+ 80 650+ 54
at the Asians in November.
* Forecast
And the South Americans
Note: A small number of sailors attend more than one championship, esp- recorded a “full house” of all
cially those who attend the South Americans at Easter, and therefore the members on that continent.
total number of sailors is less than the total of those at each event.
43 Years of the IODA Worlds - venues and nations participating
60
1962 G. Britain 3 1973 Cancelled 1984 Canada 28 1995 Finland 41
50 1963 Sweden 4 1974 Switzerland 20 1985 Finland 32 1996 S. Africa 39
1964 Denmark 8 1975 Denmark 23 1986 Spain 29 1997 N. Ireland 41
40 1965 Finland 9 1976 Turkey 19 1987 Holland 29 1998 Portugal 44
1966 U.S.A. 6 1977 Yugoslavia 22 1988 France 32 1999 Martinique 47
30 1967 Austria 11 1978 France 25 1989 Japan 30 2000 Spain 59
1968 France 14 1979 Thailand 16 1990 Portugal 38 2001 China 44
20 1969 G. Britain 15 1980 Portugal 24 1991 Greece 39 2002 U.S.A. 45
1970 Spain 14 1981 Ireland 24 1992 Argentina 29 2003 Spain 50
10 1971 Germany 13 1982 Italy 30 1993 Spain 41 2004 Ecuador 50
1972 Sweden 15 1983 Brasil 22 1994 Italy 39 2005 Switzerland 52

8. 12
World Championship While IODA has recently encour-
aged the growth of continental
Images of the Worlds
Silvaplana, Switzerland 25 July - 6 August and regional championships to
facilitate sailors worldwide, the
Worlds remains the focal point of
the year.
IODA World Championship Each member country may send
1. Tina Lutz Germany up to five sailors, who race in six
2. Matthew Scott Trinidad & Tobago divisions to reduce congestion on
3. Wu Jianan China
4. Philipp Autenrieth Germany the start line.
5. Nicklas Dackhammar Sweden
6. Jorge Martinez Doreste Spain
The best sixteen teams also com-
7. Julian Autenrieth Germany pete in the IODA World Team-
8. Daniela Zimmermann Peru Racing Championship.
9. Jakob Bosic Slovenia
10. Sean Bouchard Bermuda
11. Jacek Sierzputowski Poland Miami Herald Trophy
12. Vasilis Patoutsoglou Greece (Team Aggregate Scores - 4 sailors, no discards)
13. Karin Alkstedt Sweden
14. Carl Evans New Zealand 1. Germany 19. Ecuador 37. Canada
15. Jovina Choo Singapore 2. Sweden 20. Spain 38. Puerto Rico
16. Paolo Cattaneo Italy 3. Peru 21. Denmark 39. Latvia
17. Ben Saxton Great Britain 4. China 22. Slovenia 40. Hungary
18. Ronyon Oliveira Brasil 5. Greece 23. Argentina 41. Czech Rep.
19. Alexis Katsios Greece 6. N. Zealand 24. Japan 42. U.S.V.I.
20. Anthony Alkins Trinidad & Tobago
7. Italy 25. Austria 43. Serbia/M
Girls 8. Croatia 26. Netherlands 44. Tahiti
1. Tina Lutz Germany 9. Malaysia 27. Uruguay 45. Slovakia
2. Daniela Zimmermann Peru 10. Poland 28. Finland 46. Dominican R
3. Karin Alkstedt Sweden 11. Singapore 29. Chile 47. Bulgaria
4. Jovina Choo Singapore 12. Brasil 30. Mexico 48. N. Antilles*
5. Rufina Tan Hong Mui Malaysia 13. Bermuda 31. Portugal 49. Qatar*
6. Stephanie Zimmermann Peru 14. France 32. Turkey 50. Venezuela*
7. Ariana Villena Ecuador 15. G. Britain 33. Belgium 51. Estonia*
8. Enia Nincevic Croatia 16. Trinidad 34. S. Africa 52. Australia*
9. Kim Pletikos Slovenia
17. U.S.A. 35. Switzerland
10. Federica Wetzl Italy * Incomplete team
18. Norway 36. Ireland
IODA World Team Racing Championship
1. Argentina 5= Great Britain
2. Malaysia 5= Sweden
3. New Zealand 7= Denmark
4. Italy 7= Peru
SUI 1. ITA ITA
USA 16. SUI ITA
NZL USA 9. DEN DEN
NZL 8. USA ARG
NZL DEN
DEN CHN 5. CHN ARG
NZL POL 12. ARG ARG
POL 13. NZL NZL
GBR 4. POL
NZL ARG
3 ITA SWE 3. SWE MAS 1
ITA SWE 14. MAS MAS
SWE CRO 11. CRO PER
TRI 6. PER
SWE MAS
PER 7. GBR
PER 2
BRA 10. BRA GBR
GBR 15. TRI GBR
GER TRI
2. GER

9. One-Design Different sailors
The rainbow table below explains why the Optimist succeeds in its objective of providing truly inter-
national competitive sailing.
• there is no need to take your own boat
In most sailing, even at Olympic level, boats are not supplied. At all major Optimist championships and an
increasing number of lesser events, charter boats are easily available. And they are just as fast as any other
Optimist. So if its cheaper to bring your own, do so. If not, don’t worry.
• there is no faster make of boat
It is the sailor who wins, not the boat. Optimists from twelve different builders were used by those 41 sailors below
who brought their own boats. What boats do well depends on what countries currently have the best sailors. Osis boats
are not better for girls (!), Scandinavian girls did well this year and sailed locally built Osis boats.
Older boats are competitive: GER 10961 and GER 11601, in 4th and 7th place at the Worlds, are five and six
years old respectively.
• you can probably buy from a builder near you
61% of those who brought their own boats had bought them from a builder in their own or an immediately neigh-
bouring country
Hulls Used by the Top 20 Sailors at the 2005 IODA World and European
Championships
Worlds Europeans Boys Europeans Girls
1 GER 11601 Nordest DEN 7954 Winner USA12812 Charter**
2 TRI 1006 Charter* BRA 3036 Charter** SWE 4014 Osis
3 CHN 551 Charter* ESP 822 Charter** ESP 1274 Charter**
4 GER 10961 Nordest GRE 2992 Charter** ITA 6804 Nordest
5 SWE 4116 Finessa BER 1189 Charter** DEN 7800 Osis
6 ESP 769 Charter* ITA 6718 Nordest BER 1128 Charter**
7 GER 11601 Nordest CRO 900 Winner ITA 6855 Winner
8 PER 286 Charter* RUS 6 Finessa GRE 623 Finessa
9 SLO 378 Morgan PER 280 Charter** GER 11613 Ziba
10 BER 1008 Charter* NED 2597 Nordest SWE 4023 Osis
11 POL 1114 Ziba SWE 4011 Osis GRE 1495 Charter**
12 GRE 1526 Finessa FRA 1621 Winner CRO 943 Nautivela
13 SWE 4065 OS Båtar ESP 998 Charter** NED 2509 Van Wettum
14 NZL 3958 Charter* MLT 103 Charter** NED 2645 Van Wettum
15 SIN 3111 Charter* DEN 7830 Opti-X PRC SWE 4070 OS Båtar
16 ITA 6789 Nautivela GRE 252 Nordest GER 11336 Ziba
17 GBR 5452 Nautivela FRA 1521 Erplast FRA ITA 6701 Nautivela
18 BRA 3255 Rio Tecna ESP 1112 Charter** IRL 1153 Charter**
19 GRE 2386 Ziba ITA 6427 Faccenda CRO 911 Nautivela
20 TRI 1014 Charter* CRO 858 Winner GRE 1527 Finessa
*=Winner **= Sport-Sails Center
This didn’t happen by chance.
Just ten years ago 72% of all Worlds sailors used just two makes of boat. For the history see www.optiworld.org/
ioda-technical.html#ccheap
And this year four International Measurers measured sample hulls from every manufacturer represented.

10. 17
Development & training Sailors at the Worlds Much nonsense
is talked about the ideal weight
Every year IODA collects information about the sailors who qual-
for the Optimist and the age at
Sailing for a wider world ify, this year from 52 countries, to participate in the World
which sailors should leave
“Co-ordination of youth activity” includes extending sailing. IODA has more than doubled the number of mem- Championship.
the Class.
ber national associations over the last fifteen years and is committed to bringing the benefits of sailing to young Age
people worldwide. It offers limited financial aid to “newer countries” in three areas. Sailors are eligible up to and including the year of their 15th birthday. An ideal weight?
Free boats - the “6 for 5” scheme With a summer event this means that the old- In most Olympic Classes there is
est sailors are between 14.1/2 and 15.1/5,
Countries seeking to start or enlarge Optimist fleets can apply for one an ideal weight for the boat
shown here as “15”.
free boat for every five bought. sailed and those who do not
14.1/2-15.1/2 38%
The boats may be bought from any approved builder and are owned by an 13.1/2-14.1/2 32% conform to the weight for
association, club or other ‘not for profit’ organisation. They must be avail- 12.1/2-13.1/2 17% a specific boat do not sail it.
able to the children of non-sailors. 11.1/2-12.1/2 9% This is not true of the Optimist.
As a variation, countries which build batches of wood/epoxy Optimists can 10.1/2-11.1/2 4% The reason is unclear but every
receive free spars, sails and fittings. In the last twelve months beneficiaries One of the youngest group, Kim Pletikos (SLO) year the weight span of the top
have included the Bahamas, Bulgaria, Serbia & Montenegro and, for wood- came a very creditable 39th and 9th girl!
10 is at least 10kg, a difference
en boats, Vanuatu. Serbia & Montenegro of more than 25%.
Over the last four years more than 180 Optimists in twenty countries have
Weight
been acquired under this scheme. The Optimist must be the least weight-sensitive dinghy in existence, the
top 10 sailors varying from 37 to 51kg.
Team Racing World Champions Argentina averaged 53.4 kg.
Weight of Sailors (kg)
Vanuatu
Bahamas - we only subsidised the first 18!
Coach-Training Courses Sailor
For newer Optimist sailing countries and regions IODA subsidises the travel
and fees of expert instructors to train local coaches.
Top 10
The most recent courses have been held in Grenada and Anguilla. Teamrace winners
Participation in regional regattas
Girls
To encourage regional contacts IODA offers free entry and/or travel for Grenada
Tina’s victory shows why we do do not run a separate championship for Time to leave?
countries to send their sailors to their first continental or regional regattas.
female sailors! This year 42 girls sailed, 17% of the total fleet, and in 35 The Optimist Class does not seek
At least as important as the experience for the sailors are the contacts made of the 52 countries at least one girl qualified for the national team.
by their leaders to exchange information and assistance. to hold on to sailors who have
rl s
outgrown it.
s
re ed
t
In the last twelve months grants have been made to Mauritius to attend the
t
ils t
o u
A ?
The Top Ten
h
h
saren
d
e
st ge
W vio
g
g
Teenagers do not grow at a
P rt
g
Africans, St. Vincent to attend the North Americans in Tobago, Samoa the
ei
ei
A
a
a
W
H
similar rate each year but in
P
Oceanians and, exceptionally, to Sri Lanka to boost morale after the tsunami.
Tina Lutz GER 15 168 47 Y 6 1
“spurts” - one or more years in
which they grow 10 cm or more.
What happens later? Matthew Schoener Scott TRI 15 152 42 N 13 1
For example Matthew Scott
There is always a question over the long-term effect of development projects. Wu Jianan CHN 13 160 48 N 13 1
gained 12cm in the year: if Tina
Of the twenty countries which have received “6 for 5” grants in the past four Phillip Autenrieth GER 15 160 45 N 5 1 had done the same she would
years, fifteen have already started to participate in international regattas. Nicklas Dackhammar SWE 15 153 48 Y 7 2 have become 1m77 and nearly
Not everyone will progress, as have done Trinidad & Tobago, from “devel- Jorge Martinez Doreste ESP 14 165 51 Y! 7 1 the tallest sailor present!
oping” to world class in a very few years. Julian Autenrieth GER 13 155 37 N 10 0 Young people differ in growth
But if, for example, the South Pacific can produce world class rugby players, Daniela Zimmermann PER 13 153 42 Y 7 1 patterns and these differences
why not sailors? Mauritius Jakob Bozic SLO 13 157 42 Y 7 1 should be respected.
More details at www.optiworld.org/ioda-develop.html Sean Bouchard BER 15 158 48 Y 8 2

11. 18 19
Europe Popular venues Asia Asians in October
With the Worlds back on The IODA Asian Championship
89% turnout as Worlds returns to Europe mainland Europe for the first Silver and bronze at the Worlds will take place in Thailand
time in five years, 34 of IODA’s starting 26th October.
XXIII European Championship - Boys 38 European member countries Results will be available at
took part in either www.jsst.org/
Open Euro the Worlds or the Europeans.
1. Jess Lyhne Bonde Denmark 1 The rise of Asia
2. Diego Montautti Brasil In the Optimist Class no sailor
3. Diego Botin L’Echever Spain 2 It is hard to imagine that just
4. Akiklas Drougas Greece 3 may attend both events, eleven years ago Asia was
5. Joshua Greenslade Bermuda 25 countries sent different teams represented at our Worlds by just
6. Francesco Falcatelli Italy 4 to both events, 8 - mostly the seven sailors, five of them
7. Ante Botica Croatia 5 smaller nations - only to the from Japan.
8. Yan Chekh Russia 6 Europeans and one only
9. Matías Rengifo Peru A big shock came in 2001 when
10. Hansebas Meijer Netherlands 7 to the Worlds. the IODA Worlds was held in
11. Jacob Lundqvist Sweden 8 Qingdao, chosen while we were
12. Gabriel Skoczek France 9 European Championship there as the venue for the sailing
13. Cristian Argueso Spain 10 Despite a reduction in team size of the 2008 Olympics.
14. Karl Cremona Malta 11
15. Jeppe Dybkjcer Ditlev Denmark 12 to seven sailors per nation for Asian sailors placed 2, 3
16. Alexandros Hoholis Greece 13 European countries and four for and 5, included the top girl and
17. Moinet Nemo France 14 non-Europeans, 139 boys and 93 took silver in
18. José Manuel Ruiz Sanchez Spain 15 girls from 41 countries competed the team racing.
19. Filipo Ricceri Italy 16 in a brilliantly staged event Asians at the Worlds Winds were light and there was
20. Marco Peresa Croatia 17 Individual Top 10
in Gdynia, Poland. much talk of a lottery.
2001 2. Zhu Ye China
Sponsors were NIVEA But in 2002 Asia still had two
3. Abdul Rahim Malaysia
whose ongoing support sailors in the top ten, first girl
4. Teo Wee Chin Singapore
has had a huge impact on Best Girl: Xu Lijia China and bronze in the team event.
Polish sailing. XV IODA Asian And since then they have always
2002 6. Xu Lijia China
Championship 2003 7. Ryutaro Kawai Japan had at least one sailor in the top
South Pattaya, Thailand 2004 1. Wei Ni China ten and a team in the top four.
26Oct - 6 Nov. 2005 2005 3. Wu Jianan China For a similar shock in the ISAF
Entry list Team Medals World Youth Championship this
China 7 2001 2. Japan year see page 27.
XX European Championship - Girls Chinese Taipei 5 2002 3. China
Open Euro Hong Long 3 2003 4. Japan
Who next?
India 7 2004 4. China
1. Emily Dellenbaugh U.S.A. 2005 2. Malaysia If the “big four” can improve so
Indonesia 2
2. Emma Oljelund Sweden 1 dramatically who will be next?
3. Elia Borrego Spain 2 Japan 7
Even novices Sri Lanka won
4. Camilla Marino Italy 3 Korea 7
Malaysia 7 bronze in the recent ASEAN
5. Frederikke Linde Denmark 4
6. Eleanor Gardner Bermuda Myanmar 7 championships.
7. Giulia Angolini Italy 5 New Zealand 7
8. Amalia Chaldeou Greece 6 Pakistan 7 Asian Games in the Gulf
9. Svenja Weger Germany 7 Qatar 2 2006 will see the Asian Games,
10. Hanna Dahlborg Sweden 8 Singapore 7
11. Maria Voulgaraki Greece 9
the multi-sport mini-
Sri Lanka 7 Olympics, in Qatar.
12. Matea Senkic Croatia 10
Thailand 20
13. Sanne Crum Netherlands 11 Just maybe one of the four
14. Annemiek Bekkering Netherlands 12 TOTAL 102
Optimist fleets in the Gulf will be
15. Elinor Larsson Sweden 13 inspired by
16. Karoline Pepin Germany 14
17. Ludovica Misso Italy 15
home waters.
18. Diana Kissane Ireland 16 Remember Qingdao 2001!
19. Antea Kordic Croatia 17
20. Dimitra Pagida Greece 18

12. 20 21
North America Tobago South America Rising standards
The decision to hold the IODA As in Asia standards in countries
First Championship in the Caribbean North American Championship which were relatively late to
in the Caribbean for the adopt the Optimist have risen to
first time ever was an match the more traditional
outstanding success. leaders.
183 sailors from 18 countries
took part in a superbly In the Optimist world the 90s
organised event on the belonged to Argentina
beautiful island of Tobago. with five individual and four
team-racing World golds
Trinidad: the new Bermuda? plus a virtual monopoly on the
Trinidad, with three sailors in the South American
top ten at this event and championship.
the silver medallist at the
Worlds are rapidly establishing But first Peru and more recently
themselves as the fourth Ecuador have steadily improved
“great power” on the North standards and now form part of
American Optimist scene. the “big four” whose sailors can
They are following a pattern. be expected to be among the
In the mid-1990s Mexico medals.
for the first time
challenged U.S.A. Brasil of course has the strongest
domination. At the sailing tradition in the region,
beginning of the new decade inspired by the Graels and
Bermuda joined the elite. Robert Scheidt.
Now Trinidad is making it a
IODA North American Championship four-way contest.
Open N.Am. XXXII South American Championship
1. Alexander Zimmermann Peru
The legacy San Isidro, Argentina March 2005
2. Alexandre Alencastro Brasil Ninety of the Open S.Am.
3. Colin Smith U.S.A. 1 charter boats 1. Diego Reyes Mexico
4. Anthony Alkins Trinidad 2 from the event 2. Alex Zimmermann Peru 1
5. Matthew Scott Trinidad 3 will remain in 3. Alberto Fernandini Peru 2
6. José Manuel Arigos Argentina 4. Alex Torres Peru 3
the country and
7. Elijah Simmons Bermuda 4 5. Maria José Cucalon Ecuador 4
8. Sean Moynahan U.S.A. 5 with the help of
6. Rufina Tan Hong Mui Malaysia
9. James Pottharst U.S.A. 6 very generous 7. Faizani Bin Yahaya Malaysia
10. James Leighton Trinidad 7 tax-breaks a 8. Sean Bouchard Bermuda
11. Gaston Bisio Argentina number of local 9. Francisco Sucari Argentina 5
12. Will Haeger U.S.A. 8 10. Joshua Greenslade Bermuda
centres are being
13. Victor Diaz de Leon Venezuela 11. Tomas Dietrich Argentina 6
14. Mattis Naud Guadeloupe (FRA) 9 established.
12. Ariana Villena Ecuador 7
15. Diego Reyes Mexico 10 13. Daniela Zimmermann Peru 8
and yet wider 14. Luciano Gambaro Argentina 9
Girls: growth 15. José Arigos Argentina 10
1. Anne Haeger U.S.A. 1
Optimist fleets are now estab- Girls: Uruguay 2006
2. Eliza Richartz U.S.A. 2 1. Maria José Cucalon Ecuador 1 The 2006 IODA Worlds has been
3. Haley Powell Bermuda 3
lished in fifteen of the island
2. Rufina Tan Hong Mui Malaysia awarded to Uruguay (after
nations of the Caribbean, and 3. Faizani Bin Yahaya Malaysia
new fleets are growing in 4. Ariana Villena Ecuador 2
Christmas) and it will be interest-
Team Racing: ing to see how the South
1. Peru
Central America. 5. Daniela Zimmermann Peru 3
Next year’s championship in Team Racing: Americans fare when competing
2. Bermuda 1
3. Mexico 2 Puerto Rico will provide a further 1. Peru 1 3. Ecuador
for once at the height of their
4. Trinidad 3 incentive. 2. Peru 2 own season.

13. 22 23
Oceania Four aspects Africa Fourth African
Oceania is not only the geo- Championship
Diverse activity graphically largest of the conti- Newer fleets improve
nents but the most diverse in In a continent with two very dis-
terms of Optimist activity. tinct groups - north and south - it
was great to have a fairly central
New Zealand
After decades as the last home of
competitive wooden boats New
Zealand has only recently applied
its great sailing tradition to the
Optimist. 2004 was their annus
mirabilis with 2nd and 4th
individual and the Miami Herald
Trophy for best team at the
Worlds. This year they had to be
content with bronze in the team
racing and 6th place in Miami.
Australia
Real progress is being made in
expanding the Optimist from its
traditional base in Western
Australia. Queensland has
recently formed the latest
of four state associations. venue, and Dar es
Salaam in Tanzania
Les français provided some great
The Oceanian Championship in racing.
French New Caledonia produced
no less than three teams of IV African Championship East Africa
French nationals, Tahiti, the Dar es Salaam, Tanzania August 2005 The fleets developed in
Wallis & Futuna Islands and the Kenya, Tanzania and
Open Afr. Uganda over the last
hosts. Winner Corentin Guegan 1. Kristian Kirketerp Denmark
V IODA Oceanian Championship had been 10th in the 2004 three years have rapidly
2. Lærke Lokdam Denmark improved and can now
Noumea, New Caledonia December 2004 Worlds. 3. Ahmed Ragab Egypt 1
finish ahead of what were
Open 4. Stephanie Nissen Denmark
5. Wassim Ziani Algeria 2 admittedly the second and third
1. Corentin Guegan New Caledonia (FRA) South Pacific 6. Amine Midoum Algeria 3 South African teams.
2. Thomas Saunders New Zealand
Vanuatu joined IODA this year as 7. Kaare Kirketerp Denmark
3. Felix Denavacelle New Caledonia (FRA)
4. Luke Deegan New Zealand the seventh IODA mem- 8. Lars Fjord Garvey Uganda 4 First time for Mauritius
5. Maaxime Mazard New Caledonia (FRA) ber from the vast ocean. 9. Dylan Emmett South Africa 5 It was a particular pleasure to see
6. Nicolas Poree New Caledonia (FRA) The 2006 Oceanians are 10. Salomon Pedersen Tanzania 6 sailors from Mauritius who have
7. Matthew Jones New Zealand 11. Stefano Marcia South Africa 7
scheduled for the Cook recently introduced Optimists.
8. Etienne Lepen New Caledonia (FRA) 12. Claire Walker South Africa 8
Islands and 13. Marina Behrend Denmark This Indian Ocean island has a
9. Malo Leseigneur New Caledonia (FRA) great tradition of racing their
10. Sam Marshall New Zealand it is hoped that as many 14. Michael Crosland South Africa 9
as possible of them will 15. Sam Hancock South Africa 10 traditional pirogues and it is hoped
Girls: to find other African countries in
make the huge effort Girls:
1. Alexis Dubuc New Caledonia (FRA) which such traditions can be
2. Belinda Kerl Australia required to attend. 1. Lærke Lokdam Denmark
2. Stephanie Nissen Denmark reinforced by starting sailing
3. Coralie Simoni New Caledonia (FRA)
3. Claire Walker South Africa 1 at a young age.
Team Racing:
4. Marina Behrend Denmark
1. New Zealand 1 3. New Zealand 2 5. Emma Walker South Africa 2
2. New Caledonia (FRA) 1 6. Ashleigh Crosland South Africa 3

14. 24 25
Sailing for girls Together or separately?
There are many theories about
women and sport.
At Optimist age there is very
little difference in the
physical strength of boys
and girls.
A pragmatic view
The Optimist world accepts
the evidence as it is.
Some girls are as good as or
better than their brothers.
Tina just proved it!
So at the Worlds we race as one
fleet, boys and girls together.
But we also find that only around
15-20% of those selected on
merit for their
national Worlds
teams are girls.
So at most
continental
championships
we reserve
places for them.
As a result
nationally girls
have two
targets: qualify
for the Worlds
by getting into the top five, or
concentrate on being one of
the best girls to go to a
28 continental championship.
Other cultures
It 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 and creeds and
wherever Optimist
fleets start to develop
the girls soon realise
that this activity is far
too much fun to allow
themselves to
be left out.

15. 26 27
After the Optimist A lifetime sport
Sailing is a lifetime sport where
Following the concentration last year on the Olympic perfor- those aged 8 to 80 are practising
mance of former Optimist sailors (who made up over 60% of all the same skills. One of the tasks
skippers and 74% of skipper medallists) this year we look at the of the Optimist Class is to
immediate post-Optimist experience. provide the sailors of the future.
All Sailors In the annual Skipper 70-80% continue to sail
420/470 37% Questionnaire at our A 2004 report to the ISAF
29er 7% Worlds we ask what established that at least two
420/470 Laser 35% boat the sailors intend thirds of the thousands of
Europe 8% to sail next. Optimist sailors who reach
Laser Byte 4% The answers show a national championship level each
Others 9% big difference bet- year continue to sail
ween European sailors competitively after the Optimist.
and those from the rest
Europeans of the world.
420/470 48% In Europe 60% of ex- Not just the Olympics
29er 10% Optimists intend to Ever since the link between the
Laser 24% sail two-hander boats. Optimist and the Olympics was
Laser 420/470 The 420 or 470 was established in the 1990s
Europe 14%
Byte 0% specified by sailors pressures on successful
from 17 of the 26 Optimist graduates
Others 5%
countries represented has increased.
with the 29er named But while half the Olympians
mostly by Norway and may be former Optimist
Rest of the World
Finland. internationals, less than
420/470 25%
Outside Europe the 5% of Optimist inter-
420/470 29er 4% Laser dominates, with
Laser 48% nationals will in fact
an increasing number become Olympians.
Europe 1% of sailors naming the
Byte 10% It may take 15 years or more to
Laser 4.7 rig. But the 420 is reach Olympic level and the
Others 13% also on the increase. financial rewards are not
those of tennis or golf.
Fortunately there is a lot more to
ISAF World Youth Championship sailing, from team-racing
to offshore.
The success of Asian sailors at the 2005 championship mirrors closely
their improved results in the Optimist from 2001.
Wee Chin Teo (SIN), 5th in the Optimist Worlds of 2001 and 11th in 2002 ,
won the boys 420 ahead of Wataru Saito (JPN), while Xu Lijia (CHN), top
Optimist girl in 2001 and 2002, narrowly missed gold
in the Laser Radial.
The boys single-handed event is sailed in full rig
Lasers, whose target weight of 80 kg usually means
that successful Under-19s will have left the Optimist
early. But both silver medallist Jean Baptiste Bernaz
and bronze Rutger van Schaardenburg attended
Optimist Europeans.
Lighter ex-Optimists are more comfortable with the
4.7 Laser rig, where 8 of the top 10 in their Worlds
were ex-Optimist Worlds sailors, or the Radial where
Croatian ex-Optimist stars dominated the Europeans.

16. 28
IODA President:
René Kluin I.R.O. (NED)
1965 - 2005 Vice-Presidents:
The governing body is the Annual Meeting where each member David Booth (RSA)
country has one vote. Peter Barclay (PER)
The Executive Committee is composed of the president, three Mimi Santos (POR)
vice-presidents - each from a different continent - and the chairs Technical Comittee:
of the Regatta and Technical Committees. Chair: Curly Morris I.M. (IRL)
In forty years IODA has had just five presidents and three secre- Nuno Reis I.M. (POR)
taries. Paolo Luciani I.M. (ITA)
Consultant:
Luis Horta Moragas I.M. (ESP)
Regatta Committee
Chair: Luis Ormaechea I.R.O., I.J. (ESP)
Ajay Balram I.J., I.U. (IND)
Alen Kustic I.R.O. (CRO)
Peter Valentino I.J. (MLT)
Secretary:
Amneris Cloos (ECU)
International Measurers:
Jean-Luc Gauthier I.M. (FRA)
Ms. Hyo-Kyung Jang I.M. (KOR)
Paolo Luciani I.M. (ITA)
Luis Horta Moragas I.M. (ESP)
Curly Morris I.M. (IRL)
Nuno Reis I.M. (POR)
Presidents of Honour:
Viggo Jacobsen
Helen Mary Wilkes
Members of Honour:
Lars Wallin Nigel Ringrose
Erik C. Hansen Al Chandler
Jens Andersen Fred Kats
Ralph Sjöholm Norman Jenkins
Michel Barbier
www.optiworld.org Secretariat:
International Optimist Dinghy Association
Balscadden View, Abbey St.
Photo credits:
Howth, Dublin, Ireland
Tim Wilkes http://www.timwilkes.com Secretary: Robert Wilkes
Gregory Scott http://www.create3d.com
Tel: +353-1-839 5587
Bill Miller http://eventphotocenter.com
with thanks to them and all the amateur photographers whose pic- Fax: +353-1-839 4528
tures appear. e-mail: 100540.2646@compuserve.com