Optimist, Open Skiff, Youth & Olympic Sailing Blog

The American won the championship, with another show of domination over his competitors. Argentinian Santino Marcatelli and Brazilian Lorenzo Balestrin completed the podium. First girl is Maria Gracia Vegas from Peru, who placed 9th overall. First Canadian is Jackson Macaulay, who placed 82nd overall (26th in silver fleet). See results here: http://2018southamericans.optiworld.org/en/default/races/race-resultsall — see more pictures: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213839292230351&set=pcb.10213839294030396&type=3&theater

In the wake of the surprising choice by the Club de voile des deux montagnes (CVDM - located in Vaudreuil, in the vicinity of Montreal) to acquire 10 Topper dinghies, the Quebec Sailing Federation has just announced that it has also chosen the Topper for the next Quebec Games. For those who are not familiar with them, the Quebec Games are a major youth event taking place every other year in a range of disciplines (athletics, swimming, etc.). https://thetford2018.jeuxduquebec.com As discussed previously, the Topper is a dinghy whose design is outdated, and which does not offer opportunities for regattas in North America , unlike alternatives that would have been probably more justified - the Open Bic and the Laser 4.7, or even the Radial Laser.  For those who are familiar with youth sailing in Quebec, it is well known that none of the best youth sailors will ever sail in this boat.  Two years ago, the same federation had chosen another dinghy, virtually unknown - the "O

Dériveur Topper - choix étonnant pour les Jeux du Québec 2018 Dans la foulée du choix étonnant par le Club de voile des deux montagnes (CVDM - Vaudreuil) d’acquérir 10 dériveurs de type Topper, la Fédération de voile du Québec vient d’annoncer qu’elle a aussi choisi le Topper pour les prochains Jeux du Québec. Comme analysé précédemment, il s’agit d’un dériveur dont le design est dépassé, et qui n’offre pas d’opportunités de régates en Amérique du Nord, contrairement à des alternatives qui auraient été très probablement mieux justifiées — l’Open Bic et le Laser 4.7, ou même le Laser Radial . Pour ceux et celles qui sont familiers avec la voile légère au Québec, il est bien connu qu’aucun des jeunes espoirs s’orientera vers ce bateau. Il y a deux ans, la même fédération avait fait le choix d’un autre dériveur, pratiquement inconnu - l’ « Outsider » - qui avait prouvé être très peu à même d’affronter les forts vents lors de ces jeux. Avec ce nouveau choix, il est peu probable q

Follow the garda meeting - with over 1,000 optis, at this link -- check results - there is also live streaming! Page: http://www.fragliavelariva.it/regatta/2437/view Check videos on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwU52fwSzfEkRG1LGxM04cX75VHxeJBPo

The South American Team Racing championships were won by Peru (Maria Gracia Vegas, Florencia Chiarella, Paloma Poggione, Diego Riofrio), in front of Argentina and Brazil. The Nations Cup was won by USA 1 (Stephan Baker, Peter Foley, Leopold Seuss, Katharine Doble) in front of USA 3 and ISV 1.  Very good performance of team CAN1 (Nathan Duffar-Calder, Andreas Steinitz, Amy Glennie, Jackson Macaulay), which made it up to flight E (kind of quarter finals) in the Nations Cup. Fleet racing resumes tomorrow Friday for the championship fleets, with Canadians competing in both the Silver and Bronze fleets. Championship favorite remains Stephan Baker, with 4 bullets and a third, so far. See full results: http://2018southamericans.optiworld.org/en/default/races/race-resultsall

After three races, Stephan Baker (USA) leads - with three bullets! - in front of Peter Foley (USA) and Lorenzo Balestrin (BRA). Out of 168 entries, first Canadian is Nathan Duffar-Calder, from Montreal's Royal St Lawrence Yacht Club, presently ranking at the 87th position. See results after 3 races: http://2018southamericans.optiworld.org/uploaded_files/Document_8730_20180328004603_en.pdf Event website http://2018southamericans.optiworld.org/en/default/races/race-resultsall Pictures https://capizzano.photoshelter.com/gallery/27-MAR-RACES-DAY-1/G0000Ppi3N2rMTPs/C0000FHUz9ChjVeU Tracking (with replay) http://2018southamericans.optiworld.org/en/default/races/race-tracking

With the Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association having decided to run the trials for 2019 IODA events, including the 2019 Worlds, just days before the 2018 Worlds - and doing that 10 time zones away, the issue of jet lag came to the forefront. Jet lag is a very serious issue for athletic performance and is essentially incompatible with it. "Common symptoms involve fatigue, confusion and lack of awareness. Imagine those symptoms lasting for days as you grapple with the mental and emotional adjustment to your new surroundings" -- according to "The Truth About Jet Lag and How to Overcome It,"  https://lifehacker.com/the-truth-about-jet-lag-and-how-to-overcome-it-1575151287 As a parent, why should I subject my kid to such an ordeal - of having to compete in two major regattas, just separated by a few days, which is already inappropropriate, but in addition being separated by 10 time zones? In this particular case, the events are the Worlds - on August 27 - Sept

The Open Bic class has announced its 2019 North American championships, to take place in San Diego, California. The dates are now set for March 15-17. See the website and registration details: https://www.juniors.mbyc.org/2019openbicna

The main Open Bic regatta in North America in 2018, will be the North Americans, to be held August 9-11 at the Buffalo Canoe Club on Lake Erie, in Ontario, Canada. For those who don't know that venue, realize it's an amazing one - with a great beach and usually excellent sailing conditions. Highlights of the Notice of Race: - the racing is open to all ages (unlike the worlds, where it is under 17): there is an open division, and a U13 division - helmets are compulsory - entry fee is US$ 125 (increases from July 19) - charter boats are available at US$ 190 (+ damage deposit), according to availability - visit to Niagara Falls nearby - travel grants will be offered to selected participants to go to the 2019 worlds in New Zealand Check the event website for further info and the NOR https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=4650

Following my blog post comparing the Open Bic to the Topper, I was asked if I was really sure the Optimist is more expensive than those two boats.  Indeed, the Open Bic is a much more recent design, and it's a bit counter-intuitive that it would be cheaper than an Optimist. Open Bic Dinghy - from Bic Sport In this blog post, we will present some price figures out of leading online stores in North America.  We will also comment on the annual costs that are to be expected in terms of equipment. Let’s check first the Open Bic . A new Open Bic, complete, is listed on the website store.bicsport.com at 3,299,95 US$, including hull, rudder, daggerboard and complete 4.5 rig (mast, boom, blocks, sail, lines). With the Open Bic, things are simple: there is one manufacturer, one type of mast and boom (no sprit), one type of blades, one type of race sail (with a smaller sail available for lighter sailors). Now let’s have a look at a race-ready Optimist A new Optimist - pro racer

The IODA South Americans have some 170 sailors registered. The event takes place in Montevideo, Uruguay, March 25 - April. The event favorite is Stephan Baker - who won the North Americans last year and also placed 4th at the Worlds. Sailors from Canada are: Amy Glennie; Jackson Macaulay; Nathan Duffar-Calder; Liam Sturge; Nicholas Boucher; Ayrton Stein; Andreas Steinitz; Zoe Folsetter; Kate Dennis; Daniel Connors. Follow the event at the event site: http://2018southamericans.optiworld.org/ Follow Canadian sailors at: https://www.facebook.com/TeamCANIODASouthAmericans/

The 2018 Garda meeting is set to start, with some 1400 sailors, but without unfortunately the 2017 winner, Stephan Baker, who dominated the race last year, and who is sailing the South Americans - (an IODA championship with less than 200 participants this year). Check: https://www.sail-world.com/news/203281/Record-fleet-for-Lake-Garda-Optimist-Meeting

Topper or Open Bic?  This is a question that arises today in Quebec! This is an unexpected yet very real question, because one of the most active youth sailing clubs in Quebec, the Vaudreuil CVDM, has acquired 10 Topper dinghies, whereas it is especially the Open Bic that is the youth dinghy in vogue in North America, along with, of course, the seemingly eternal Optimist. A friend, director of a sailing school, asked me the question: Topper or Open Bic? Here is a succinct analysis. The most obvious difference between the two boats is that the Open Bic is a much newer design, and is part of the current trend towards skiffs, rapid sailing dinghies. The Topper was developed in 1977 while the Open Bic was in 2006. Just a quick glance allows to see that the Open Bic is in tune with our times, while the Topper is outdated. But many outdated designs are among the most important boats in competitive sailing (Optimist, Finn, Snipe, Star, etc.), so further analysis is warranted. In te

Topper ou Open Bic? Voici une question qui se pose aujourd’hui au Québec! Une question inattendue, mais bien réelle, car un des clubs les plus actifs en matière de voile jeunesse au Québec, le CVDM de Vaudreuil, a fait l’acquisition de 10 dériveurs Topper, alors que c’est surtout l’Open Bic qui est le dériveur jeunesse en vogue en Amérique du Nord, en plus bien sûr du semble-t-il éternel Optimist. Un ami, directeur d’une école de voile, me posait la question: Topper ou Open Bic ? Voici une analyse succincte. Dériveur Topper La différence la plus évidente entre les deux bateaux est que l’Open Bic est un design beaucoup plus récent, et s’inscrit dans la tendance des skiffs, dans la tendance vitesse en voilier. Le Topper a quant à lui été développé en 1977 tandis que l’Open Bic l’a été en 2006. Juste un coup d’oeil permet de voir que l’Open Bic est dans l’air du temps, tandis que le Topper n’est plus actuel. Mais comme beaucoup de vieux designs dominent en matière de voile de

Another amazing European opportunity for Optimist sailors: Nieuwpoort Week 2018.  See details and Notice of Race at this link: http://www.nieuwpoortweek.be/nor

Vous désirez participer à la plus grosse régate française ? Voici l'avis de course ! You want to participate in France largest Opti gathering? Here is the NOR! NOR - CIE