Opti’s building fleets and building character

by Media Services/Rob Kothe on 26 Jul 2006 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.