Australian and Open Championships - Day 1 preview
by Steven Bond on 5 Jan 2015
Photo from the Opening Ceremony of all the Opti sailors - 2015 Australian & Open Championships. Amanda Wilson
For the 2015 Australian and Open Championships 220 plus Optimist Dinghies have taken to the start line off Fremantle Sailing Club.
For the first time competitors have come from every State and every Territory with the Northern Territory included for the first time and a strong contingent from the ACT also.
Eight Nations are represented including New Zealand, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and the United States.
Fleet racing commences today with a maximum of 15 races, competitors will face a qualifying series over the first three days then the fleet is split between Gold, Silver and Bronze for the final two days.
The Australian Optimist Teams Racing Championship was won yesterday by the South Australian team who narrowly beat NSW. The team included Chelsea Higgins, Alexander Higgins, Matt Meany, Sam Magarey and Alexander Magarey.
Defending Champion Otto Henry from Middle Harbour Yacht Club-Woollahra is looking forward to a tight competition in what appear to be sensational weather conditions for all sailors.
The top sixteen sailors earn a spot in the Australian Optimist Sailing Team with the top five Australian sailors going to the World Championships in Poland this August, other members will attend the Asian Championships, European Championships and New Zealand Nationals.
This year AIODA has introduced a junior development squad for under 12’s, the goal is to prepare the younger sailors in advance so that attending a major international event is not as daunting and we will have them spend more time with
coaches in the defining Optimist years.
For more information see Event website.
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