Top European Optimist Sailors Prevented from Competing at the IODA European Championships

While the IODA Optimist European championships are under way in the Netherlands, it's important to note that the top European Optimist sailors are prevented from participating at those championships.

Indeed, according to IODA regulations, the 5 sailors who qualified for the Worlds in each country, are not authorized to participate in the IODA European Championships.

As a consequence, the top European sailors are not authorized to participate in the Europeans, something that is somewhat counterintuitive, and makes the Europeans a somewhat less interesting event, compared to other regional events, and of course the Worlds.

The top European sailors need to train or compete elsewhere during the Europeans - and it’s why several of them are already training in Belgium, in anticipation of Nieuwpoort Week.

Such IODA regulation does not apply to other regions, such as North America and South America, where the top sailors can participate in the regional championship of their country of residence. They can also participate in other regional championships.

For example, USA star sailor Stephan Baker already won the IODA South Americans this year and is clearly in the lead at the North Americans, currently held in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. He is one of the favorites for the worlds to be held in Cyprus in August/September.

IODA Europeans Update

After 7 qualifying races and 2 races in the final series, for the Boys, Spanish sailor David Santacrue is in the lead in front of Andréa Manhes (France) and Alex Demurtas (Italy).  First USA sailor is Cort Snyder (who nearly won Orange Bowl this year) in 10th position. First Canadian sailor is Nicolas Boucher (from Montreal) in 94th position. For the girls, Victoria Charata Mackinnon from Argentina is clearly in the lead, in front of Emily Mueller (GBR) and Cosima Schülter (GER).

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