2004 yearbook

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Page 1: 2004 yearbook

Optimist

Yearbook 2004

R

Page 2: 2004 yearbook

Images of 2004

Photo credits throughout: www.timwilkes.com Oskar Kihlborg/ksss Slidebox.it

Page 3: 2004 yearbook

The Optimist

From

to

in over 110 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.

Page 4: 2004 yearbook

Why the Optimist?

Fifty six 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 six 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

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.

Page 5: 2004 yearbook

IODA and the boat

The objective of the Optimist Class is:“to provide racing for young people at low cost”

If racing is to be fair and at low cost, then hulls and associatedequipment must be alike, with no advantage to be gained fromspending extra money. The ongoing task of IODA is to ensure thatthis is so.

In 2004 IODA worked hard to police and maintain this one-designprinciple

• Luis Miguel Horta, our prototype measurer, made several visits to builders, including measuring new prototypes from the growing numberof moulds in Asia. In late 2003, following a course organised in con-junction with the Chinese Yachting Association, three new Chinesemeasurers were appointed and their ongoing education continues.

• At Easter in Europe Luis Miguel weighed no less than 36 boats from 16builders. He found that 15 of these 16 were producing boats which werenot only of the correct weight but varied by at most 3.5%. Correctiveaction has been taken by the other builder.

• Scrutineering (check measurement) at the Worlds and continental cham-pionships was conducted, usually by IODA’s team of InternationalMeasurers.

• The first of the new foils, agreed in 2003 to gradually exclude sometypes of exotic and expensive products and to eliminate rudder shapesideal for illegal propulsion, became available.

• Experiments with exotic sail shapes, which threatened to create an“arms race” between competing designers, were firmly rejected by ourAnnual Meeting.

www.optiworld.org/ioda-technical.html

The first thing you need togo racing 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. Nearly fortybuilders in 25 countries have

approval,

AccessoriesThere is greater choice of sparsand 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 markets

but in Europe a new hull ready tosail with basic gear should not

cost over $1,700 + sales taxes.The “best of everything” as usedat the Worlds, has a list price of

around $2,500, but ex-charterboats used for only a few days

are a lot cheaper and bulk purchase can reduce the

price still further.

Make it yourself For those with some practicalability it remains possible to

build your own wooden Optimist.

3

Page 6: 2004 yearbook

Racing

Racing is the core activity of the Optimist Class

Learning to sail may be the first step but in most countriesthis can be safely left to clubs and sailing schools under thedirection of National Sailing Associations.

But if young people are not quickly and intelligently intro -duced to racing they will get bored and leave the sport.

First stepsIt is a small step from sailing

round a triangle to trying to do itfaster than the next person.

Good instructors will ensure thatthis step is taken under carefully

controlled and, above all, safeconditions. It is only too easy tofrighten the sailor at this stage.

Local travelAnd it is a small step from racing

in your own club to sailing at aregatta along the bay.

Boats have to be transported andkids can’t drive. Parents can

easily become full-time weekendchauffeurs but in many of the

most successful countries this isthe job of the club coach.

Another idea is to alternate tripswith 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!

The RulesThe rules of sailing are actually

quite simple and are taught as part of sailing. They should be

enforced from the start. “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)

Page 7: 2004 yearbook

International racing 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.

CalendarYou don’t have to travel abroad

often and it is entirely possible toreach the top without doing so.

But if you can there are literallyhundreds of regattas worldwide

to choose from, almost all ofthem 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 national events which are

almost always open.

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!

The function of an International Class, as stated by ISAFRegulation 26.1, is to provide international competitivesailing.

Young people today have many attractive choices and sail -ing will not keep them interested if it is confined to littleregattas with the same sailors in the local club.

International travel has been the growth industry of recentyears and in sailing this has led to the boom in sailingholidays in the sun.

The Optimist, with its international network, has made useof this trend to offer opportunities to the young people ofthe world.

w w w. o p t i w o r l d . o r g / i o d a - 0 4 c a l e n d a r. h t m l

5

Page 8: 2004 yearbook

Some regattasNo Grand Prix!Unlike later sailing and indeed many other sports at this age, there is noranklist, Grand Prix or circuit in the Optimist Class. This is sailing for funand many parents (and even more schoolteachers!) would not accept that youhave to go to a certain event on a certain date.

Nor is it necessary to compete at frequent international events in order to dowell. The top four at this year’s Worlds had not competed outside their owncountry earlier in the year.

Most sailors who do compete abroad do so during the Easter and Christmasholidays.

EasterWhile Americans North and South take part in the IODA South AmericanChampionship, Europeans have the four huge Easter regattas. This year,helped by yet another record turnout in Garda, over 1,300 sailors from 24European nations (and a few very welcome visitors) took part in these fourregattas with an average (and that includes San Marino!) of over 50 sailorsper country.

“an average of over 50 sailors per country”Teams from Denmark and San Marino in Garda.

ChristmasThe December holidays are becom-ing increasingly popular for Optimistregattas. While many families headfor the ski slopes, venues in the sunkeep others sailing.

A growing trend is for smaller islandmembers to run more or less invita-tional regattas, seeking entries fromother countries to provide interna-tional competition for local sailors.

Including the Asian Championshipan estimated 850 sailors from 60countries took part.

EasterBraassemermeerNetherlands 9-12 Apr.264 sailors from 11 countries1. Viktor Bergström SWE2. Gijs Pelt NED3. Henrik Grirn SWE4. Sander van Bladel NED5. Freek Wijman NED

Garda MeetingItaly 8-11 Apr.791 sailors from 22 countries1. Kacper Zieminski POL2. Tim Saxton GBR3. Martino Tortarolo ITA4. Lukasz Przybytek POL5. Filip Matika CRO

PortorozSlovenia 9-11 Apr.274 sailors from 8 countries1. Nik Pletikos SLO2. Mihovil Fantela CRO3. Jakob Bosic SLO4. Rudi Hravatin SLO5. Simon Laganis SLO

OptispringNetherlands 17-18 Apr.132 sailors from 5 countries1. Ben Saxton GBR2. Tim Saxton GBR3. Gijs Pelt NED4. Adam Johansson SWE5. Mathieu Willemart BEL

ChristmasSt. Nicholas RacePula, Croatia 4-7 Dec.300 sailors from 10 countries1. Lukasz Przybytek POL2. Filip Matika CRO3. Jas Farnetti ITA

Malta EuromedMalta 17-21 Dec.63 sailors from 10 countries1. Valentino Valacchi ITA2. Federico Magnano ITA3. Benji Borg MLT

XL Capital InvitationalBermuda 19-22 Dec.43 sailors from 10 countries1. Filip Matika CRO2. Victoria Travascio ARG3. Sebastian Peri Brusa ARGMalta Euromed

Page 9: 2004 yearbook

ASEAN Championship Thailand Dec.53 sailors from 5 countries1. Quek Ju Lian SIN2. Sean Lee Teik Ran SIN3. Sherman Teng Feng Yuan SIN

XL Capital RegattaBermuda 19-22 Dec.43 sailors from 10 countries1. Filip Matika CRO2. Victoria Travascio ARG3. Sebastian Peri Brusa ARG

Caribbean InvitationalTrinidad Dec.34 sailors from 8 countries1. Sebastian Peri Brusa ARG2. Andrew Lewis TRI3. Nathalie Zimmermann PER

Orange BowlMiami, U.S.A. 27-30 Dec.194 sailors from 8 countries1. Stephanie Roble USA2. Sean Moynahan USA3. Adrian Hernandez PUR

Trofeo M. CampobassoNaples, Italy 3-5 Jan.134 sailors from 10 countries1. Tim Saxton GBR2. Michaz Gryglenski POL3. Ben Saxton GBR

and yet othersDubai InternationalDubai, U.A.E. 24-30 Jan65 sailors from 10 countries1. Filippo Rocchini ITA2. Federico Maccari ITA3. Gijs Pelt NED

Schoelcher WeekMartinique 20-25 Feb88 sailors from 10 countires1. Nathalie Zimmermann PER2. Mattthieu Mariani MON3. Romain Marie FRA

Dutch OpenWorkum, Netherlands 20-23 May305 sailors from 8 countries1. Nik Pletikos SLO2. Matheusz Hanke POL3. Jonas Müller GER

Scotiabank Caribbean InternationalSt. Thomas, USVI 17-20 Jun57 sailors from 9 countries1. David Alfonso PUR2. Haley Powell BER3. José Nigaglioni PUR

7and yet othersDistances between countries outside Europe prevent much internationalcompetition apart from the continental championships. But there areexceptions.The Dubai International is relatively accessible to Europeans and providesan ideal antidote to the prospect of February! More importantly it givesthe fast-growing fleets of the Gulf a chance to train and compete withtheir visitors.Schoelcher Week serves much the same func-tion for the islands of the Caribbean whilethe deliberately low-key Scotiabank (photoright) in St. Thomas is an ideal introduc-tion for younger sailors in the region.Back in Europe the Dutch Open serves as last minute trials and practice for northEuropean teams. The (northern) summer is dominated bythe World, European and North Americanchampionships, attended by some 650 nation-ally selected sailors, but this is also the season ofnational championships, almost all of them open to foreign visitors andsome of them huge. The biggest we have found is the French with over550 sailors!

No one designed this calendar and no doubt somewhere there isa committee which would like to rationalise it. All we can say isthat no one has to go anywhere, and a lot of sailors have a lot offun!

Team Racing EventsTeam Racing is hugely popular in the Optimist and is included inall continental championships except the European (those whoadvocate doing so forget that it would involve doubling the jury costsfor the benefit of 80 of the 268 sailors present).Instead three separate European events have developed, each with dif-ferent entry criteria.Earliest is the Trofeo Marco Rizzotti in the Venice lagoon in May.

Open to regional and national teams, the 2004 event attracted eightcountries.Result: 1. Croatia 2. Tuscany/Umbria 3. Friuli/Venezia 4. Florida

Unique is the GrandOptical Champions Cup in Valle di Ledro, Italy.This event is open only to the champion club teams of European coun-tries which run national inter-club team racing championships. Fourteensuch teams entered in 2004 and results were:1. Grafham W.S.C. (GBR) 2. C.V. Bellano (ITA) 3. H.J.B.K. (SWE)

Finally in October Berlin hosts the Opti Team Cup. 2004 results arenot yet available but the 2003 event saw 16 teams from 14 countries. Result: 1. Russia 2. Norway 3. Italy 4. Poland

Page 10: 2004 yearbook

IODA championships

In 2004 over 800 young sailors fromover 70 countries will represent theircountries at IODA championships.

All six continentsWith the creation of an IODA

African Championship in 2001the Optimist became the first boat

class to organise, in addition toits Worlds, a championship on

each continent, though theOceanians is held only biennially.

Achievable goalsYoung people need goals.

As local fleets develop IODA aims to keep

the sailors interested by providing the achievable

target of selection as part of anational team. Who has not

dreamed 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”.

The Championship Year in figures

Event Sailors Countries

Worlds 228 50Europeans 268 38S. Americans 163 13N. Americans 119 12Asians 74 12Africans CancelledOceanians to be held in December

Page 11: 2004 yearbook

The 2004 Worlds, held in SalinasEcuador attracted 228 sailors

from fifty countries, the same asin Gran Canaria last year.

The North African members didnot make the long journey but

their place was taken by sailorsfrom six Caribbean members.

The championship saw the firstever Asian world champion and

for the first time in eight yearsthe team-racing event was won

by a European team.

New Zealand and hosts Ecuadorwon medals for the first time.

World Championship

Sailors from 84 countries have participatedin IODA World Championships

The Worlds remains the ultimate goal of Optimist racers

While IODA has recently encouraged the growth of continentaland regional championships to facilitate sailors worldwide, theWorlds remains the focal point of the year.

Each member country may send up to five sailors, who race insix divisions to reduce congestion on the start line.

The best sixteen teams also compete in the IODA World Team-Racing Championship.

Our special millennium Worlds for 2000 in Spain attractedsailors from 59 countries, our record to date but by rotatingvenues 84 countries have attended at least one championship.

9

1962 G. Britain 31963 Sweden 41964 Denmark 81965 Finland 91966 U.S.A. 61967 Austria 111968 France 141969 G. Britain 151970 Spain 141971 Germany 131972 Sweden 15

1973 C A N C E L L E D1974 S w i t z e r l a n d 201975 Denmark 231976 Turkey 191977 Yu g o s l a v i a 221978 France 251979 Thailand 161980 Portugal 241981 Ireland 241982 Italy 301983 Brasil 22

1984 Canada 281985 Finland 321986 Spain 291987 Holland 291988 France 321989 Japan 301990 Portugal 381991 Greece 391992 Argentina 291993 Spain 411994 Italy 39

1995 Finland 411996 S. Africa 391997 N. Ireland 411998 Portugal 441999 M a rt i n i q u e 472000 Spain 592001 China 442002 U.S.A. 452003 Spain 502004 Ecuador 50

42 Years of the IODA WorldsVenues and nations participating

Page 12: 2004 yearbook

1. N. Zealand2. Poland3. Italy4. Croatia5. Mexico6. Peru7. China8. Japan9. Slovenia

10. Brasil11. Ecuador12. Germany13. Denmark14. U.S.A.15. Argentina16. Spain17. Sweden

18. Bermuda19. Greece20. Singapore21. Netherlands22. G. Britain23. Trinidad24. Finland25. Switzerland26. Uruguay27. Belgium28. Malaysia29. France30. Tahiti31. Chile32. Ireland33. Venezuela34. Canada

35. Portugal36. Puerto Rico37. S. Africa38. Norway39. Barbados40. Austria41. Colombia42. Australia43. Guatemala44. Dominican R.45. N. Antilles*46. Bulgaria*47. C. Taipei*48. Uganda*49. Monaco*50. Malta** Incomplete team

IODA World Team Racing Championship

1. Poland 5= Denmark

2. Italy 5= Spain

3. Ecuador 7= Greece

4. China 7= New Zealand

IODA World Championship1. Wei Ni China2. Paul Snow-Hansen New Zealand3. Eugenio Díaz Spain4. Daniel Willcox New Zealand5. Lukasz Przybytek Poland6. Kacper Zieminski Poland7. Matthew Scott Trinidad & Tobago8. Filip Matika Croatia9. Baepi Lacativa Pinna Brasil

10. Corentin Guegan Tahiti11. Gabriel Melchert Brasil12. Tina Lutz Germany13. Diego Reyes Mexico14. Erik Brockmann Mexico15. Paolo Cattaneo Italy16. Leonardo Dubbini Italy17. Oskar Taurell Sweden18. Wataru Kamiya Japan19. Francesco Falcatelli Italy20. Austen Anderson U.S.A.

Girls1. Tina Lutz Germany2. Nathalie Zimmermann Peru3. Stephanie Roble U.S.A.4. Griselda Khng Singapore5. Susannah Pyatt New Zealand6. Saki Goto Japan7. Arianna Villena Ecuador8. Claire Lasko Great Britain9. Daniela Zimmermann Peru

10. Sophie Weguelin Great Britain

Miami Herald Trophy(Team Aggregate Scores - 4 sailors, no discards)

Page 13: 2004 yearbook

Images of the Worlds

Page 14: 2004 yearbook

LatviaLithuaniaMaltaMoldova

MonacoNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomania

RussiaSan MarinoSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUkraineYugoslavia

AsiaBahrain

Chin. TaipeiChinaHong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanKoreaKuwaitKyrghyzstan

MalaysiaMyanmarPakistanPhilippines

QatarSingaporeSri LankaThailandU.A.E.Uzbekistan

OceaniaAm. Samoa

AustraliaCook IslandsFijiNew Zealand

Papua N.G.SamoaSolomon Is.Tahiti

SeychellesS. AfricaTanzaniaTunisiaUgandaZimbabwe

101 countries are current members of IODA*50 attended the 2004 Worlds73 attended the most recent continental championship23 built GRP Optimists17 received development and training grants in 2003/4

* Italics indicates that membership has lapsed

Page 15: 2004 yearbook

Development & training

Sailing for a wider world“Co-ordination of youth activity” includes extending sailing. IODA has more than doubled the number ofmember national associations over the last fifteen years and is committed to bringing the benefits of sailingto young people worldwide. It offers limited financial aid to “newer countries” in three areas.

Free boats - the “6 for 5” schemeCountries seeking to start or enlarge Optimist fleets can apply for one free boat for every five bought.

The boats may be boughtfrom any approvedbuilder and are owned byan association, club orother ‘not for profit’organisation. They mustbe available to the chil-dren of non-sailors.

As a variation, countrieswhich build batches ofwood/epoxy Optimistscan receive free spars,sails and fittings. In 2004 beneficiaries have included Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Netherlands Antilles(above) and Tanzania.

O v e r the last three years more than 150 Optimists in thirteen countries have been acquired underthis scheme.

Coach-Training CoursesFor newer Optimist sailing countries and regions IODA subsidises the

travel and fees of expert instructors to train local coaches.

A successful coaching tour in the southern Caribbean led to theinstructor being hired by Trinidad, and other countries in the regionhave been helped to employ him for coach development.

In Central America one course has already been held and, with newfleets in Nicaragua, El Salvador (left) and hopefully soon Costa Rica,

a similar coaching tour is planned

Participation in regional regattasTo encourage regional contacts IODAoffers free entry and/or travel forcountries to send their first sailors to continental and regional regattas.

Favourites for these first steps into international competition are theSchoelcher and St. Thomas Regattas in the Caribbean, the All-AfricanChampionship, and the Asian and ASEAN championships.

At least as important as the experience for the sailors are the contactsmade by their leaders to exchange information and assistance.

Nine countries received such grants in 2003/4 including mostrecently Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.

Page 16: 2004 yearbook

Europe The second homeEurope was the second home of

the Optimist when it was imported to Denmark

and modified. For over twenty years

Scandinavian sailors dominated,winning fourteen of the first

twenty Worlds 1962-1982. Butwhen GRP and mass-production

arrived the rest of Europe becamecompetitive with fourteen

countries winning gold over thenext 20 years.

European Championship168 boys and 100 girls from

38 countries competed in Sandhamn, Sweden.

Poland, which had won the team-racing at the Worlds with a

different team, showed theirstrength in depth with four

sailors in the top 20 boys and theSwedes also did well on their

home waters.

The Greek girls celebrated theopening of the Athens

Olympics in style by taking all three medals.

15

XXII European Championship - BoysOpen Euro

1. Zemke Wojciech Poland 12. Nicklas Dackhammar Sweden 23. Alex Zimmermann Peru4. Alexis Katsios Greece 35. Colin Smith U.S.A.6. Marko Peresa Croatia 47. Fredrik Bergström Sweden 58. Kevin Peponnet France 69. Jonathan Scharff Denmark 7

10. Tommy Fink U.S.A.11. Mateusz Hanke Poland 812. Magnus Rasmusson Sweden 913. Rafal Kalinowski Poland 1014. Kohei Ichikawa Japan15. Lovre Perhat Croatia 1116. Yvan Beckuis France 1217. Enzo Savelli Italy 1318. Ekin Bahadir Turkey 1419. Jakub Bajor Poland 1520. Sam Williams U.S.A.

XIX European Championship - GirlsOpen Euro

1. Katerina Koutsougera Greece 12. Afrodite Kirinakou Greece 23. Ermina Gerogakapolou Greece 34. Agnieszka Skrzypulec Poland 45. Lina Stock Croatia 56. Josefin Olsson Sweden 67. Federica Wetzl Italy 78. Anne Haeger U.S.A.9. Hanna Dahlborg Sweden 8

10. Anne-Marie Rindom Denmark 911. Renata Petani Croatia 1012. Nerea Peponnet France 1113. Aina Jordi Spain 1214. Yui Matsushita Japan15. Tajana Ganic Croatia 1316. Cassandre Blandin France 1417. Nina Keijzer Netherlands 1518. Emma Oljelund Sweden 1619. Karoline Pepin Germany 1720. Stephanie Zimmermann Peru

Page 17: 2004 yearbook

Asia The rise of AsiaIt is hard to imagine that just ten

years ago Asia was represented atour Worlds by just seven sailors,

five of them from Japan.Now we not only have a Chinese

world champion but hot competition between the “big

four” - China, Japan, Singaporeand Malaysia, any of which can

produce world-class sailors.

Two Asians2004 in fact saw part of two

IODA Asian Championships withthe 2003 event, held in December

for weather reasons in Mumbai,India, actually finishing in the

new year. In their home watersIndia showed that they may be

the next force in Optimist sailingtaking team bronze and a 7th

place for their best sailor.

South Asian RegattaA direct result of the Mumbai

Asians has been the revival after23 years of the South Asian

Yachting Regatta, a tri-nations event between

India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.Held in Enterprises and of coursenow Optimists, the event includes

team-racing in both.As a further development efforts are being made to

establish an Optimist fleet in the Maldive Islands.

ASEANsThe ASEAN (South East Asian)Championship, which is actually

older than the Asians, will beheld in Myanmar in December.Michael Myint writes that this

event will be widened to include Asian and Australasian sailors.

70 new Optimists are beingimported for the event, a major

boost to the region.

XV IODA Asian ChampionshipHayama, Japan August 2004Open Asian

1. Valentino Valacchi Italy2. Scott Glen Sydney Singapore 13. Wataru Komiya Japan 24. Hotaka Ishihara Japan 35. Alvin Yeow Jang Shing Malaysia 46. Kuanas Ku Zamil Malaysia 57. Wei Ming Lun Singapore 68. Hitoshi Kumakawa Japan 79. Wu Tong China 8

10. Zhong Hainan China 911. Justin Xiaman Liu Singapore 10

G i r l s1. Wu Tong China2. Saki Goto Japan3. Wang Dong China4. Jovina Bei Fen Chu Singapore5. Haruka Komiya Japan

Team Racing1. Japan 2 3. Japan 12. Singapore 4. China

Page 18: 2004 yearbook

North America U.S.A. - spreadingThe Optimist was invented in

Florida and for forty years didnot get much further. But in the

90’s it took off and there are nowfleets in more than thirty states.

This year’s best sailors camefrom Long Island Sound and

Lake Beulah, Wisconsin.

and furtherAbout the same time Mexico

adopted the Class and early graduates included two future

Olympians. The tradition contin-ues with two MEX sails in the

top 20 at this year’s Worlds.Bermuda was rather later on

the scene, appearing at theWorlds only in 1998. Last year

they produced our silver medallist and latest reports are

that over 300 kids will takebasic courses next year.

the Caribbean potentialOver the last five years

initiatives in this sailing paradise have established

Optimist fleets in over a dozenislands, six of which participated

in this year’s Worlds.The incredible 7th place at the

event taken by a novice with nine months experience confirms

our view that growth will identify potential.

Among the latest additions arethe Bahamas with new fleets in

two clubs.

and yet furtherThe latest development is in

Central America. Guatemala ledthe way (and got

their reward with amedal at this year’s

ISAF YouthWorlds). Now new

fleets are being created in Nicar-

agua, El Salvadorand Costa Rica.

IODA North American ChampionshipOpen N.Am.

1. Elijah Simmons Bermuda 12. Austen Anderson U.S.A. 23. Stephanie Roble U.S.A. 34. Sean Bouchard Bermuda 45. Joshua Greenslade Bermuda 56. Erik Brockmann Mexico 67. Oliver Riihiluoma Bermuda 78. Diego Reyes Mexico 89. Haruka Komiya Japan

10. Jordan Saints Bermuda 911. Jean-Paul de Tr a z e g n i e s P e r u1 2 . Masao Sasagawa J a p a n1 3 . Joe Kutschenreuter U . S . A . 1 01 4 . Max Rudolf Schaller G e r m a n y 111 5 . Susannah Pyatt New Zealand

Girls:1. Stephanie Roble U.S.A. 12. Haruka Komiya Japan3. Susannah Pyatt New Zealand4. Amanda Johnson U.S.A. 25. Eleanor Gardner Bermuda 3

Team Racing:1. Bermuda 3. U.S.A.12. U.S.A. 3 4. Japan

17

Page 19: 2004 yearbook

South America Stimulus of the Wo r l d sThis year’s Worlds in Salinas,

Ecuador provided a a majorincentive for the continent, notleast for the host nation which

dominated the South AmericanChampionship and took a convincing bronze medal

in the World Team Racing Championship.

The northern countries of thecontinent, Colombia, Venezuelaand Ecuador, have never to dateproduced quite the same quality

of sailors as the south but, on this year’s evidence, this

could be changing.

A change of emphasisIn the Optimist world the 90s

belonged to Argentinawith five individual and four

team-racing World golds plus a monopoly on the

South American championship.But in the Optimist no

domination seems to last for long and Peru has become the

country to watch, not least due to a seemingly endless

supply of Zimmermanns (they are cousins and not even youreditor is ever quite sure which

belongs to which branch of the family!).

Brasil continues to produce astream of fine sailors, inspired

no doubt by the Graels andRobert Scheidt.

Uruguay 2006The 2006 IODA Worlds has been

awarded to Uruguay (afterChristmas) and it is anybody’sguess which will be the best of

the South Americans, competingfor once at the height of their

own season.

XXX1 South American ChampionshipAlgarrobo, Chile April 2004

Open S.Am.1. Edgar Diminich Ecuador 12. Sean Bouchard Bermuda3. Pedro Velez Ecuador 24. Rafael Quintero Ecuador 35. Alex Zimmermann Peru 46. Juan Pipkin Argentina 57. Caio Rotolo Brasil 68. Daniela Zimmermann Peru 79. Erik Brockmann Mexico

10. Cameron Pimentel Bermuda11. Gonzalo Picco Peru 812. Oliver Riihiluoma Bermuda13. Franco Villanueva Peru 914. Branko Markinovich Peru 1015. Diego Reyes Mexico

Girls:1. Daniela Zimmermann Peru 12. Arantza Gumuchio Chile 23. Nathalie Zimmermann Peru 34. Alexia Torres Peru 45. Ariana Villena Ecuador 5

Team Racing:1. Peru 1 3. Argentina2. Peru 2 4. Uruguay

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Oceanians in DecemberThe IODA Oceanians is held,

because of the huge distances, onlyevery second year.

The 2004 event will be in NewCaledonia in December.

The 2002 championship in Samoawas attended by ten Oceanian

countries and newcomers this yearwill include the Wallis Islands.

A great year for “downunder”2004 was the year in which New

Zealand made it to Worlds medals,taking silver in the individual event,

winning the Miami Herald Trophyfor best team and also ranking fourth

over-all and fifth girl.For Tahiti Corentin Guegan

registered the best ever result, 10th.

National Australian teamThe Australian Worlds team was

probably the most representative sofar with sailors from Adelaide,

Melbourne and Perth.

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Oceania

The African ChampionshipA great disappointment of 2004

was the cancellation of the4thIODA African Championship

which was to have been held in Algeria.

But this is the Optimist Class andwe have high hopes for the the

2005 Championship which is tobe organised by the Kenyan

Optimist Association at the salt-water venue of Dar es Salaamwhich is actually in Tanzania.

As shown on the developmentpage, Kenya, Uganda and

Tanzania all have new or muchupgraded fleets in the last three

years and it is hoped that the2005 turnout will exceed the

nine African countries present in 2003.

Africa

Page 21: 2004 yearbook

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 viewThe Optimist world

accepts the evidenceas it is.

Some girls are as goodas or better than their

brothers. We have had two female

open world champions.

So at the Worlds werace as one fleet, boys

and girls together.

But we also find that only around15% of those selected on meritfor their national Worlds teams

are girls. So at continental championships we reserve

places for them.As a result nationally girls have

two targets: qualify for theWorlds by getting into the topfive, or concentrate on being

one of the best girls to go to acontinental championship.

Other culturesIt is often thought that sport for

girls faces extra problems in non-European societies. This is notthe Optimist experience - this

year the top five girls were fromfive different continents.

Sailing for girls seems to beacceptable to all cultures and

creeds and, wherever Optimistfleets start to develop, the

girls soon realise that this activity is far too much fun to allow

themselves to be left out.

Page 22: 2004 yearbook

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.

70-80% continue to sailResearch on the internet hasestablished that at least two

thirds of the thousands ofof Optimist sailors who

who reach national champi-onship level each year

continue to sail competitively after the

Optimist

Feeding the youth ClassesThe immediate next boat fornearly 80% of top Optimist

sailors is the Laser or the 420(though in some countries they

graduate directly to the 470).The recent expansion of the

Laser 4.7 has provided a muchneeded additional step especially

in countries with windy conditions.

The Europe remains popular innorthern Europe and among girls,

and a surprising number godirectly to Snipes.

A number of newer boats havebeen developed specifically for

the post-Optimist market but fewof them seem as yet to have made

much impact worldwide.

and laterOlder ex-Optimists can be found

sailing almost anything that races!

Even of those with no desire togo the Olympic way many

remain faithful to their Lasers or470s, but the inshore one-design

keelboats also attract many of the by now unrecognisable

former Optimist urchins!

After the OptimistThe Olympic dream

Kids dream. Parents dream. Maybe even the men in blue blazerssometimes dream!

It is achievable:

IODA congratulates all the former Optimist sailors who achieved theirOlympic dreams.

The medallists74% of the skippers of the medal-winning boats were former Optimist sailors. And over 70%of these had sailedin IODA World or continental championships.

Optiworld congratulates the following ex-Optimists on their medals(* = Optimist international):

The OlympiansAt least 60% of all Olympic boat skippers were ex-Optimists andalmost 70% of these were former Optimist internationals.

But what about the others?The Olympic dream is not for everyone.

With just over 400 places at each Olympics (including those who do itstanding up!) and maybe 6,000 Optimist internationals in a decade, onlya tiny proportion will make the transition. It may take 15 or more years ofdedicated effort. And it may end in frustration.

The evidence is that only 15% will even try, the percentage of the relevantage-group which participated in the 2003 ISAF Olympic Classes worldchampionship.

But the others don’t give up competitive sailing.

A study of the sailors at the 1995 Optimist Worlds has found that 66%of them can be identified as sailing later, and in the European Union thisfigure rises to 80%, perhaps because of better internet reporting.

Sailing is for life!

Robert Scheidt*Ben Ainslie*Siren Sundby*Sofia Bekatorou*Iker Martinez*Andreas Geritzer*Rafael TrujilloNick Rogers*

Natalia Via Dufresne*John Lovell*Ross MacDonaldNikolaos KaklamanakisVasilij Zbogar*Matthias KusznierewiczSigne LivbjergKazuto Seki*

Therese Torgersson*Chris Draper*Santiago Lange*Xavier Rohart*Pascal RambeauDorte JensenSarah Webb

Siren SundbyOptimist European Champion (Girls)1995 &1996Girls’ Gold & 10th over-all, OptimistWorlds 1997ISAF World Youth Champion 2000Olympian 2000OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST 2004

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Page 23: 2004 yearbook

National Associations

www.optiworld.org/ioda-members.html

Many run great websites!

Over 100 AssociationsWorldwide there are over 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.

Page 24: 2004 yearbook

IODAForty years: five presidents

The International Optimist Dinghy Association was founded in 1965 andhas had just five presidents in the intervening 40 years.

Viggo Jacobsen 1965-1982Viggo, from Aarhus, Denmark was elected chairman

when IODA was founded at the Worlds in Finlandwith just seven members.He guided the Class through many technicaldevelopments including the first GRP boats and

by the time he retired there were 30 nations at theWorlds.

Still active, he recently celebrated his 90th birthday

ContinuityIn a Class where sailors and their parents are constantly

changing, the continuity in the administration of the international Class

is vitally important.

DemocracyThe Annual Meeting, attendedthis year by delegates from 50countries remains the supreme

authority in the Class.Its collective decisions

show a remarkable unselfishness, with the

wealthier nations repeatedly banning expensive innovations.

CommitteesIODA operates with a minimum

of bureaucracy.The Executive comprises the

president, three vice-presidentswhose job it is to liaise with

specific geographical areas, andthe chairmen of the Technical

and Regatta Committees.

ExpertsIn recent years the ISAF has

established formal qualificationof experts in different areas and

IODA is fortunate to have theservices of such people. The

Regatta Committee is composedof International Race Officers(IROs) or Judges (IJs) and the

Technical Committee ofInternational Measurers (IMs).

SecretariatIODA has had even fewer secretaries than presidents.

Edith Jacobsen was the secretaryuntil the retirement of Viggo, at

which point a dedicated secretari-at was established in Aarhus

under the ever-loyal Hanne Rix.Following her retirement in 1997

Robert Wilkes in Dublinbecame secretary.

Nigel Ringrose 1982-1985Nigel had introduced the Optimist to England in1960 and had acted as Viggo’s vice-president.His great contribution internationally was that hetravelled widely on business and introduced theOptimist to Argentina, South Africa and else-where . . . . and re-started them in the U.S.A.!He remains passionately devoted to sailing indeveloping countries.

Al Chandler 1985-1989Al, an American lawyer living in Thailand, had host-

ed the 1979 Worlds, the last to be sailed in woodenboats. He is also an experienced ISAF I.J.As well as promoting the Class throughout Asiaand beyond, Al established the constitutional

groundrules for IODA and its events.Al is still deeply involved in sailing: Thailand will

host the 2005 Asian Championship.

Helen Mary Wilkes 1989-1998From Howth in Ireland, Helen Mary had been secretary of the Irish Class and the 1981 Worlds.She inspired and led the ‘IOD95’ project whichrestored the Optimist as a true one-design, andput IODA on a firm legal and financial base.Following retiral as the first president of theWomen’s Match Racing Association, she continuesto be closely involved with the Class.

René Kluin 1998-From Rotterdam, René organised the 1987 Worlds and

has twice served as a Race officer at the Olympics.A longtime member of the IODA Regatta Comm-ittee René has always sought to achieve the bestpossible racing for our young sailors while neverforgetting to keep it child-friendly.

A financial controller within the Dutch civil service,René now oversees the increasingly complex adminis-

tration of the ever-growing Class.

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Page 25: 2004 yearbook

President:René Kluin I.R.O. (NED)

Vice-Presidents:David Booth (RSA)Peter Barclay (PER)Mimi Santos (POR)

Technical Comittee:Curly Morris I.M. (IRL) chairmanNuno Reis I.M. (POR)Paolo Luciani I.M. (ITA)Consultant:Luis Horta Moragas I.M. (ESP)

Regatta Committee:Michel Barbier I.R.O., I.J. (FRA)

chairmaAlen Kustic I.R.O. (CRO)Luis Ormaechea I.R.O., I.J. (ESP) Peter Valentino I.J. (MLT)Consultant:Tony Lockett I.R.O. (GBR)

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)

Members of Honour:Viggo Jacobsen (President of HonouLars Wallin Nigel RingrosErik C. Hansen Al ChandlerJens Andersen Fred KatsHelen Mary Wilkes Ralph SjöholmNorman Jenkins

IODA was founded in 1965 and became an ISAF (thenIYRU) International Class in 1973.

To maintain the strict one-design principle it measures pro-totypes from each mould, conducts inspections, undertakesscrutineering at major championships, and maintains a net-work of International Measurers (I.M.s)

To ensure the quality of racing it provides top InternationalRace Officers (I.R.O.s) for major championships and pub-lishes guidelines for organising them.

Coordinating national associations on each continent isl a rgely the work of the vice-presidents.

The secretariat conducts all correspondence, maintains thewebsite and publishes newsletters and this yearbook.

IODA

www.optiworld.org

Secretariat:International Optimist DinghyAssociationBalscadden View, Abbey St.Howth, Dublin, Ireland

Secretary: Robert Wilkes Tel: +353-1-839 5587Fax: +353-1-839 4528e-mail: 100540.2646@c o m p u s e r v e . c o mThe back cover shows an Optimist rigged with a ‘crab claw’ rig!

Photo François Chevalier, courtesy of Voiles et Voiliers

Page 26: 2004 yearbook

the development Optimist?