Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 M600 LEADERBOARD

Opti’s building fleets and building character

by Media Services/Rob Kothe on 26 Jul 2006
Hiking hard- Optimist style Fauer
Victorian sailor Steven Bond,(Bondy) from Ozi Opti says ‘As parents we want to see our kids succeed in life. An Optimist dinghy costs about the same about as a good lap-top computer but it’s not about the boat. It’s about building character in kids and getting out on the water on an Opti can be part of that process.'

The International Optimist Dinghy or 'Opti' as it is more affectionately referred to is now the only junior class sailing in all states of Australia with the recent formation of the South Australia Class association.

The Opti is the largest one-design class in the world sailed by 150,000+ kids in more than 110 countries worldwide.

Australia is perhaps the last frontier for the Opti, apart from Western Australia where the Opti is the dominant junior class with almost 150 boats. It is worth noting that the recent Australian Schools Team Championships held at Royal Yacht Club of Victoria were won by WA and all learnt their craft in the Opti, alongside Belinda Kerl and Chelsea Hall who have just won the 420 Girls at the ISAF Junior Worlds this month.



It is envisaged that this growth of the Opti will lead to larger junior fleets and attract world class competitors from our world dominant neighbours, New Zealand and Singapore. In these countries astute coaches are now looking to the Opti fleets for the Olympic sailors of the future. Opti sailors of today could be lining up for Australia at the 2016 Olympics!

Aound the world some very well known Opti sailors have climbed through the ranks with Ray Davies who started on the little snub nosed dingy now on Team New Zealand Emirates.

'Bondy' and OziOpti are certainly in the centre of the Opti action.

OziOpti has been selected by the national class association AIODA to supply Optimist Dinghies for the 2007 Australian Optimist Championships being hosted by Sandy Bay Sailing Club, Tasmania between January 7th and 13th at the Sailing South Regatta.

OziOpti was selected ahead of suppliers from New Zealand, China and Singapore and in doing so has become the preferred supplier for both the Australian Championships and the Pacific Rim Championships at Mornington YC as part of the Sail Melbourne Regatta between December 29th and January 3rd.

The combination of both these regattas provides for a fantastic month of sailing for the kids; there are special transport packages available for travel between Melbourne and Hobart, details of which are available on the event websites.

OziOpti is Melbourne based with distributors in Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide, who will also carry Opt parts spare parts and accessories.

For further information on OziOpti and to download charter reservation forms see www.oziopti.com.au or call Bondy on 03 9699 7765

For further information on the Pacific Rim Championships visit www.sailmelbourne.com.au

For further information on the Australian International Optimist Dinghy Championships visit www.sbsc.yachting.org.au

Sail-World.com will be keeping the kids up to date on these events as they draw closer, stay tuned.

Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025Boat Books Australia FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Related Articles

Expanding horizons with West System Epoxy
Working on D-Class boats over the years sparked Jonathan Minnebo's love of sailing Returning to his roots, Jonathan Minnebo has broadened his sights from solely shipwright work to creating bespoke furniture and staircase design and installation.
Posted today at 6:54 am
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 2
Final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage A thrilling second day of racing at the 2025 Santa Maria Cup saw the final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage.
Posted today at 4:47 am
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world.
Posted on 5 Jun
Scandinavian Gold Cup at Sopot, Poland Day 1
A slow start with very little wind The Scandinavian Gold Cup opened Thursday in Sopot, Poland, with seven 5.5 Metres competing for this historic and iconic trophy that dates back to 1922. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind to even complete one race.
Posted on 5 Jun
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 3
A six-hour bake on the water Veteran and multi-Olympic race officer Sulis was clear at the morning briefing, "Our priority is to get three races for the 49er so they can progress to the gold fleet."
Posted on 5 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 3
Platoon Aviation turn up the heat but don't dent American Magic Quantum Racing's lead After a disappointing first regatta of the season when they finished in an uncharacteristic last position in Saint-Tropez, the fortunes of the German flagged 2023 52 SUPER SERIES overall champions Platoon Aviation seem to have turned for the better.
Posted on 5 Jun
Diverse international fleet for 5th AEGEAN 600
The race start is a little over 1 month away In a sign that this newest of the world's 600-mile classic offshore races has reached maturity, organizers from the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club are pleased to announce yet another large international fleet will be assembled for the 2025 AEGEAN 600.
Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup.
Posted on 5 Jun
SailGP: Media Conference concludes in New York
Skippers speak ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix The media conference ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix has concluded, without any special points being revealed, save for Brazil lending a crew member to Germany.
Posted on 5 Jun
A decade of pushing the boundaries at A+T
Celebrating 10 years of the world's best yacht instruments 2025 marks a decade of pushing the boundaries of quality and customer service in the global yachting industry for A+T Instruments.
Posted on 5 Jun