Optimist, Open Skiff, Youth & Olympic Sailing Blog

There is a wide variety of ways to develop strength, flexility, rapidity, endurance.  This page provides selected examples of exercices to be considered. Best is to get a program developed by a professional who is particularly aware of what kids can do according to their age and development. For competitive Opti racers, who typically will have a max weight of 110 lbs, the use of weights is typically not appropriate. So the use of the sailor's own body weight and of a light medicine ball should be preferred.  It's also important not to over do it, and 2 or 3 sessions per week will typically be sufficient. Endurance is best achieved with sports such as biking, cross country skiing, running, rowing, swimming etc. Again, best is to consult a youth fitness professional to develop a specific program. Here are a few references. Nate Bower Workout for Young Athletes Another Nate Bower Workout for Young Athletes Sailing Conditionning 101 - for older sailors, yet relev...

Une question fréquemment posée est: Pourquoi le Laser 4.7? Alors que ce gréement du Laser est super connu en Europe, il l’est moins dans certains autres pays, en particulier aux Etats-Unis et au Canada. La réalité est qu’il y a de nombreuses raisons pour choisir ce bateau. Celui-ci, rappelons-le, est un Laser équipé d’une voile de 4.7 mètres carrés (contre 5.76 mètres carrés pour le Laser Radial). Ce gréement est particulièrement adapté à la voile jeunesse. Examinons ici les raisons - et elles sont nombreuses - pour lesquelles c’est un excellent choix. Sont présentées ci-dessous 10 premières raisons. La seconde partie de l'article, qui sera disponible prochainement, présentera 10 raisons supplémentaires de choisir ce bateau. 1. Un succès international considérable Le Laser 4.7, lancé il y a seulement une vingtaine d’années, connaît un succès international considérable. Les championnats d’Europe attirent par exemple généralement quelques 400 participants. Ceci est un nombre pl...

Ceci constitue la suite de l’article présentant douze idées pour développer une équipe provinciale au Québec. La première partie, si vous ne l’avez pas encore lue, est accessible à ce lien . Un développement est survenu depuis: la publication de la version officielle du projet d'équipe provinciale de la fédération. Ce document a été transmis par la fédération malgré d’évidentes faiblesses et le peu de consultations dont il a fait l’objet. Ceux qui disposent du document de la fédération pourront constater que l’approche préconisée est très différente de ce qui est suggéré ici - avec notamment pour différences le rôle de l’Optimist, le nombre, la destination et le coût des déplacements en hiver et au printemps, et le type de structure proposé pour soutenir les athlètes. Bien que les parents aient à répondre d’ici deux semaines, espérons que des ajustements pourront être faits pour améliorer le projet de la fédération, qui semble présentement susciter plus de questionnements que d...

Le podium en Laser Radial: 1. Victor Sullivan 2. Calem Austin 3. Francis Charland Les championnats 2019 de voile jeunesse se sont déroulés, comme à l’accoutumée, au Club de Voile des Deux Montagnes, les 7 et 8 Septembre 2019. Ce sont quelques 130 concurrents qui y ont participé. Voici les podiums pour les différents types d’embarcation et catégories d’âge - lorsqu’appliquable. Pour consulter les résultats complets, voir le lien : Optimist (classement général) 1. Mathieu Graham 2. Carlos Charabati 3. Jacob Towsend Optimist (flotte rouge) 1. Mathieu Graham 2. Jacob Towsend 3. Noé Portelance Optimist (flotte bleue) 1. Carlos Charabati 2. Nicolas Absi 3. Angus Beauregard Optimist (flotte blanche) 1. Eva Doucette 2. Benjamin Port-Louis 3. Nathaniel Stoner Topper 1. Gabriel McGrow Edmunds 2. Chloë Scheunert 3. Benjamin Rinfret-Racette Laser Radial 1. Victor Sullivan (senior) 2. Calem Austin (U16) 3. Francis Charland (U19) Laser Radial (U16) 1. Calem ...

There was a surprise registration at Fall CORK in the Laser 4.7 fleet: Cort Snyder, from the Lauderdale Yacht Club in Florida, who won the prestigious Orange Bowl regatta in the Optimist in December last year, and who placed 4th overall at the Garda meeting in 2018, with over 1000 participants. Canadian Laser 4.7 sailor Noah Adler in action The Fall CORK regatta (CORK stands for Canadian Olympic-training Regatta, Kingston) was a 2 day event, held this year in summer like conditions. First day were light winds, and only 2 races were possible. For the second day, there were sustained winds of 12 to 15 knots, and 3 races were completed. Snyder won the regatta in the Laser 4.7 with 3 bullets and 2 second positions. Second in the Laser 4.7 was Noah Adler from Nova Scotia, the 2018 Canadian Optimist champion.  The Laser 4.7 fleet had 19 boats, versus 12 in the Standard and 68 in the Radial, which was won by Canadian sailing team sailor Coralie Vittecoq, from Québec. The standard ...

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...

Optimist sailing is great, but all good things come to an end. Now what to sail after the Optimist? This is the question that will be addressed by Jean-Pierre Kiekens, a recently graduated optimist father, after over 10 years of service in that capacity. He is also very familiar with the Club 420 and Laser Radial as used in youth sailing. Jean-Pierre is not only a sailor (Laser, Snipe, etc.) but he is also running a specialized blog on youth sailing and has written many articles on the challenges associated with youth sailing development, particularly in the North American context. The webinar will discuss what's best to do after the Optimist: - Youth sailing development: what are the goals? - Single-handed or double-handed sailing? Or both? - Laser and C420s: are they still suitable for youth sailors? - Two missing links in youth sailing in North America: the Laser 4.7 and the RS Feva - 29er, i420, Nacra 15, etc.: multiple choices, but few real options - What about windsur...

2016 4.7 Europeans - Source: EurILCA This past weekend’s Laser Canadian championship was a reminder of the very limited spread of the 4.7 rig in Canada.  Out of a total of 55 participants, there were just 4 competitors in the 4.7. This situation is unfortunately pretty typical not only in Canada but more generally in North America, as the 4.7 rig remains unpopular in the US too. The contrast with Europe is stark. For example, at the 2019 Laser 4.7 European championships held in Hyères, there were nearly 400 participants. In Europe, there is a balance, in youth sailing, in terms of participation between the 4.7 and the Radial. Sailors typically sail there a few years in the 4.7, and then continue in the Radial. Some male athletes pursue afterwards in the Laser Standard. Unlike in Europe, there is no such balance between the 4.7 and the Radial in youth sailing in Canada, and in North America in general. Europe now has huge vibrant fleets of both Lasers 4.7 and Radial, and is ...

Update: here is the link to watch the webinar: https://www.facebook.com/highperformanceyouthsailing/videos/862679444088982/ Optimist sailing is great, but all good things come to an end. Now what to sail after the Optimist? This is the question that will be addressed by Jean-Pierre Kiekens, a recently graduated optimist father, after over 10 years of service in that capacity. Jean-Pierre is not only a sailor but he is also running a specialized blog on youth sailing and has written many articles on the challenges associated with youth sailing development, particularly in the North American context. The webinar will be held, online of course, at 4 pm EST on June 17. To register, please go to the Facebook Event . What will be covered? - Youth sailing development: what are the goals? - Single-handed or double-handed sailing? Or both? - Laser and C420s: are they still suitable for youth sailors? - Two missing links in youth sailing in North America: the Laser 4.7 and the RS...