2019 Optimist Worlds: Which Countries are Particularly Present in the Gold Fleet

Caption: Marco Gradoni after Winning his First World Title in 2017.
Last year, after the qualifying series at the 2018 Optimist Worlds in Cyprus, we looked at which countries were particularly present in the gold fleet.

The Optimist class allows for 5 competitors per country at the worlds. So this compilation provides a good idea of the level / quality of Optimist sailing in the various countries.

Last year, the three dominant countries were Italy, Israel and Thailand.

So let’s look at what are the numbers for this year.

No country placed its 5 boats in the gold fleet.

Placing 4 boats this year Italy, with USA and Spain.

This is big improvement for Spain.

Last year, USA had 3 boats in the gold fleet, and its 4 boats this year indicates a continued strengthening of the Opti class in the US.

It's a notable decline for both Thailand and Israel.

Italy remains at the top of Optimist sailing with its substantial presence in the Gold Fleet -- 4 boats in 2019, 5 boats in 2018.

And obviously also thanks to the amazing Marc Gradoni, who may grab a third world title.

July 12 Update: Italy won the team racing at the 2019 Opti Worlds, which comforts our assessment putting Italy as the world's top nation in Opti sailing.

Here are the numbers for 2019

With 5 out of 5 Sailors in Gold Fleet

no country

With 4 out of 5 Sailors in Gold Fleet

Italy
Spain
USA

With 3 out of 5 Sailors in Gold Fleet

Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Chile
Germany
Portugal
Sweden

Here were the numbers for 2018:
With 5 out of 5 Sailors in Gold Fleet

- Italy
- Israel
- Thailand

With 4 out of 5 Sailors in Gold Fleet

- Brazil
- Switzerland

With 3 out of 5 Sailors in Gold Fleet

- France
- Greece
- Ireland
- Singapore
- Sweden
- USA

A note about the Canadian situation

Last year, Canada placed 3 boats in the Silver fleet, one in the Bronze and one in the Emerald. This was one of the best results for the Canadian team in the past decade. This year, there will be one sailor in the Bronze fleet, and 4 sailors in the Emerald fleet.

See: https://optimist-openbic-sailing.blogspot.com/2018/09/2018-optimist-worlds-which-countries.html

Source: http://2019worlds.optiworld.org/

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