Name this dinghy and win!

by Helen Hopcroft on 25 Oct 2007 Win glory, bragging rights and a free t-shirt by being the person to come up with the best name for the new Australian made polyethylene dinghy based on the popular International Optimist Dinghy.

Following the success of the McDonald’s NameIt burger campaign, OziOpti decided to leave the naming of their new training dinghy to the Australian public. It’s your chance to become part of maritime folklore: for generations to come kids are going to be rigging and sailing the dinghy you named. Email your suggestions to Steve Bond at stevenbond@oziopti.com.au: winners will be announced on Sail-World.

The first Australian built and designed polyethylene training dinghy was delivered to Mt Martha Yacht Club last week and orders for more are starting to pile up. OziOpti’s Steve Bond reports that a fleet of six are on their way up to Hamilton Island Yacht Club and he has another thirty orders to be completed before Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, if you are considering getting junior into sailing now is the time to do it. OziOpti are offering their training dinghies at the bargain price of $2,015 + GST for orders of 5+ boats and have an EziOpti rental option for parents that want to try before they buy. With the unprecedented demand for the new dinghies it is respectfully suggested that you place your order sooner rather than later if you want it there in time for Christmas morning.

‘It’s a good opportunity for families to get into sailing with the summer season approaching’ commented Bond.

Bond said that the design of the training dinghies has been adapted to suit the way junior sailing is taught in this country. The strong emphasis on capsize drills means that the centreboards had been strengthened and buoyancy in the bow increased.
‘These ones have been specifically designed and produced for Australian conditions and the Little Tackers program. They’re affordable and they reduce our reliance on volunteers for maintenance.’

‘We’ve increased the amount of room inside the boat so ergonomically they can fit two to three small sailors, whereas existing ones are really only capable of one or two.’

Bond reports strong interest in the upcoming Pacific Rim and Open International Optimist Championships which will be hosted by Mornington Yacht Club (27th -31st 2007.) See http://www.sailmelbourne.com.au/events or http://www.aioda.com for details.

There will also be an international training clinic (2-4th January) followed by the Australian and Open International Optimist Championships (6-11th January), to be held in conjunction with the Australian Youth Championships, at Frankston Yacht Club.

Both championships have Open and Green (novice) divisions; entries are above expectations with a number of international competitors already having entered the events.

Contact details
Address : 21-23 Chessell Street
City : Southbank
State : Victoria
Postcode : 3006
Country : Australia
Phone : +61 3 9525 3788
Mobile: 0424225774
Fax : + 62 3 9525 5329
Email : stevenbond@oziopti.com.au

http://www.oziopti.com.au

Australian international optimist dinghy association
http://www.aioda.com

Frankston Yacht Club
http://www.fyc.yachting.org.au

Mornington Yacht Club
http://www.morningtonyc.yachting.org.au

Mount Martha Yacht Club
http://www.mmyc.yachting.org.au/