2010 Opti Nationals (Optimist Dinghy Nationals)
by Larry S. Chowning
Fishing Bay Yacht Club on Stove Point in Deltaville will be the host of the 2010 United States Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) Layline Nationals sailing championships from Friday, July 16, through Saturday, July 24.
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| This sign was created by T.G. McMurtrie and can be seen hanging in front of Tee’s T-shirts in Deltaville. |
The Optis are 8-foot long dinghy sailboats piloted by youngsters.
Races will be held near the mouth of Fishing Bay in the Chesapeake Bay.
There will be three race divisions. The first division is Team Races, where four boats team up and race against four other boats. The race winner is determined by order of finish by the four boats on each team.
The Girls National Races and the co-ed Fleet Races are the other two divisions. Race times determine the class each boat is in, and on the final day the top sailors make the “gold call” and race for the gold medal. Races for silver and bronze medals also are held.
This a major national event. About 350 young sailors will compete for national honors, said co-chair of the event Noel Clinard of Fishing Bay Yacht Club. “It has taken a great amount of cooperation from the community for this meet to happen,” he said.
One “local host” that has contributed greatly is Deltaville Boatyard on Jackson Creek. Owner Keith Ruse agreed to allow three temporary sailboat ramps to be built at the boatyard to launch the Optis. He also cleared a portion of his yard to accommodate the 300 to 350 dinghy sailboats.
The Deltaville Maritime Museum agreed to handle parking for the expected 700 cars, and to host the main regatta tent for registration and other administrative activities. The museum also will provide mooring for power boats of the families of the contestants.
The properties of Jackson Creek Harbour Condominiums will connect the two sites of the museum and Deltaville Boatyard so people can walk between the two locations.
The residents of the Harbor House community agreed to allow its boat ramp to be used as a powerboat launching ramp under close supervision of volunteers.
Trailers will be parked in a lot owned by Delta Marine.
All of these sites together are called the “Community Regatta Center.”
Another contributor is Christchurch School, which will host a reception and dinner for the entire group on Thursday evening.
Also, Deltaville Yachting Center and Norton Yacht Sales each contributed $2,500 to the event and are host participants.
Lou and Onna Grimm of Deltaville Yachting Center specified they wanted their funds to be used to allow local people to have a way to see the races. So Sailgroove, a video firm owned by Chris Love, was hired to video the event live so races can be seen by the public on a big screen at the Deltaville Community Association (DCA) building in Deltaville.
Clinard said Opti Nationals will generate at least $750,000 in revenue for the Deltaville community through lodging, food and retail sales to parents, relatives and friends who will attend.
Retail food vendors are going to be on site at the museum to provide lunch for the crowd. Moo’s Deli, J&W Seafood and The Galley will periodically provide the food.
Charter boats also are available for spectators to go out and watch the races, noted Clinard.
“Part of what we (Fishing Bay Yacht Club) are trying to do is give something back to this community,” he said. “We have long-range plans to continue to do that and this is just one way we feel we can contribute.”
The schedule of events includes:
Team Nationals
- Friday, July 16—Sailors check-in, teams check-in and boats are measured.
- Saturday, July 17—Racing to follow lunch on the water and umpire debriefing ashore.
- Sunday July 18—Racing to follow lunch on the water and umpire debriefing ashore.
- Monday July 19—Final team race. After a racing awards ceremony, team competitor dinners will be held.
Girls Nationals
- Monday, July 19—Measurements and check-in.
- Tuesday, July 20—Skippers, coaches and parents meeting; racing to follow lunch; awards ceremony; and girls competition dinner.
Fleet Nationals
- Tuesday, July 20—Measurement and check-in; opening ceremonies; competitors dinner; and food vendors open for retail dinners.
- Wednesday, July 21—Skippers, coaches and parents meetings, and races to follow competitors lunch on the water.
- Thursday, July 22—Skippers, coaches and parents meeting; racing starts; competitors lunch on the water; and reception at Christchurch School.
- Friday, July 23—Skippers, coaches and parents meeting; races: and competitors lunch on the water.
- Saturday, July 24—Skippers, coaches and parents meeting; races; and national awards presented.
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Fishing Bay Yacht Club of Deltaville, the host club for the 2010 USODA Layline National Championships, has announced that Anna Tunnicliffe, 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winner, 2-time Rolex Yachts Woman of the Year and 2009 World Sailor of the Year, will appear at the event on July 20 in Deltaville.
Tunnicliffe will present the awards for the USODA Girls National Championship, which ends that day, and will give a welcome address to the Open Nationals competitors. She will speak to the competitors about the level of commitment and dedication required to accomplish their sailing goals and give the kids a chance to ask questions about her sailing career.
The Opti Nationals, scheduled to take place July 16-24, represents the pinnacle of Opti sailing in the US, and host club Fishing Bay Yacht Club is well-prepared for the expected onslaught of more than 300 talented young sailors, not to mention their parents and coaches.
Anna’s appearance is made possible by Atlantis WeatherGear, official apparel provider and proud Gold Partner to the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. “These young sailors represent the future of our sport,” offered Atlantis partner Bill Lynn. “We’re thrilled that Anna is willing to do this, as I don’t think there is any better role model in sailing today. The level of commitment that Anna brings to her athletic pursuit is exceeded only by the level of class that she displays both on the water and off, and as a parent, I want my kids to see that.”
According to event co-chair Noel Clinard, “Anna’s presence takes our event to another level, and we appreciate the fact that the folks at Atlantis WeatherGear were able to help make her attendance possible. She is a hero to many of these kids, and we expect them to hang on her every word.”
For more details, visit http://www.optinationals2010.org