Optimist Nationals- Toyota continues support for grass roots sailing

by Sean Paterson on 29 Dec 2013
Toyota New Zealand has once again signed on as main sponsor of the 2014 NZIODA National Optimist Championship to be held at Manly Sailing Club - Whangaparaoa, over Easter of 2014, continuing their many years of support and loyalty to Optimist sailing in New Zealand.

Jonelle Port from Toyota New Zealand, said Toyota are once again delighted to be part of developing grass roots sailing in New Zealand and to support such an important event on the Optimist sailing calendar.

Toyota's support for yachting in New Zealand is significant and their advertising campaigns - after the Americas Cup - A Better Tomorrow Starts Today featured many of our Optimist sailors. NZIODA is once again proud to be associated with Toyota for the National Optimist Championship and is extremely grateful for their continued sponsorship.

While Olympic Medals and America’s Cups aren’t at stake here, qualification for NZIODA teams to represent NZ are. Optimist sailors and their parents have been known on occasion to be a little tense when they feel things aren’t going their way.

Manly Sailing Club have secured the services of John Parrish as PRO and Harold Bennett as Regatta Director. Just like Toyota’s sponsorship covering the spectrum from grass roots sailing to America’s Cup.

Manly SC has been fortunate to have two of the most experienced Race Officers in the world officiate the 2014 NZIODA National Optimist Championship. John Parrish has run countless World Championships and Olympic Games Regattas while Harold Bennett has officiated in every America’s Cup since 2000.

Manly Sailing Club is anticipating 175 sailors in the Open Fleet and 100 in the Green Fleet. The Open Fleet will also consist of sailors from overseas with entries being received from the USA, Aus, New Caledonia, Cook Is as well as enquiries from GBR. It is also hoped that leading Optimist nations, Thailand and World Champions from Singapore, will compete.