Growing Number of Entries for the Open Bic North Americans

View of the Beach - of the amazing Buffalo Canoe Club
on Lake Erie, near Niagara Falls
Yes, this year the Open Bic North Americans will take place in Canada, at the amazing Buffalo Canoe Club on Lac Erie.

As this point, there are already 33 entries, including some of the world's best Open Bic sailors, out of Hawaii.

By comparison, CORK Optimist International has only 13 entries at this point, 4 of them from Canada (many more to come though)

While taking place in Canada, there are no Canadian entries yet for the Open Bic North Americans. An element of explanation is this.

While several clubs in provinces such as Quebec and Ontario have Open Bic fleets, particularly for their Junior Sailing program, the Open Bic is typically not recognized by official federations. It's the case in Quebec and in Ontario - mostly by tradition and also by fear of jeopardizing participation in the Optimist fleets.

As a results, most racing sailors tend not to sail the Open Bic, eventhough it's a good, and one of the very few, transition boat, like the Laser 4.7, out of the Optimist - towards other boats, where much more sailor weight is required, such as the 420, the 29er and the Laser Radial.

Unlike for the worlds, there are no age limits for the Open Bic North Americans, So even if you are above age 16, you can participate. Adults are also welcome!

Note that sailors up to around 140 / 145 lbs can competively sail the Open Bic, which has a sail of a similar size as the Laser 4.7.

Check the (un)regatta website:
http://buffalocanoeclub.com/Racing_Sailing_(1)/Regattas/2018_O_Pen_BIC_North_Americans

(yes the format is different from the conventional regattas - hence the "un" in front of regatta)

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