Optimist, Open Skiff, Youth & Olympic Sailing Blog

Optimist World Champion Marco Gradoni will defend his title at the 2018 Ora Cup Ora, to take place on August 11-13 on Garda Lake.  He indeed won the event in 2017. (sail # 8925 in video) This is another one of those amazing Optimist events taking place in Europe this summer. There are already over 350 registrations! This includes large contingents from Germany, France, Monaco, Hungary, Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, and of course Italy.  So, like in 2017, it promises to be a HUGE event.  Not as huge as the Spring Garda meeting, which gathered some 1,400 boats earlier this year, yet a huge event indeed. If you decide to join, you can also participate in the Lombardi Trophy, that also takes place on Garda Lake a few days earlier. See the video of the last day of racing in 2017.  Regatta Link: http://www.circolovelaarco.it/regate-icagenda-menu/41-23-ora-cup-ora

Melges 14 in Action - at Recent US Nationals This July 13, World Sailing announced that four boats were short listed by its Re-Evaluation Working Party. It mentions it received 8 bids, but the 4 discarded bids are not indicated. The four short listed boats are: - Laser (Standard and Radial), presented by ILCA (the "defender" ...) - D-Zero, by Devotti Sailing - Melges 14, by Melges Boat Works - RS Aero, presented by RS Sailing The World Sailing Board of Directors approved the Working Party recommendation. The shortlisted bids therefore move into Phase 2 of the selection process. No foiling boat in the selected boats. Check our previous articles: Singlehanded Dinghies for the 2024 Olympics: Selection Criteria and Potential Contenders 2024 Olympic Singlehanded Dinghies: Videos of the Potential Contenders Note: we got the 4 in our previous articles ... Source: http://www.sailing.org/news/87044.php#.W0hjw34yWRs

July 1 was not only Canada Day but also the first day of the new retaliatory tariffs on selected US imports, including ... sailboats. The Canadian currency has been pretty weak lately, moving from quasi parity with the US$ in 2013 to an exchange rate of approx 1.30 to the US$. (see graph below) Add 10% of these new import duties. That's about a 40% hike,  not withstanding normal inflation, in getting new dinghies in Canada from the US, such as the Laser or selected Optimist brands such as McLaughlin.  And obviously, for Beneteaus and other larger sailboats, the price increase is much steeper. And don't cry, as handkerchiefs, cleansing or facial tissues and towels are also subject to the 10% retaliatory duty! Happy Canada Day dear Canadian Sailors ! :)