Exciting times for the Irish Optimist fleet with momentum quickly building towards the IODAI National Training Week taking place from the 2nd to the 5th of November.
Scheduled over four days, with over 130 participating young sailors from 16 different clubs across the Country. It is certainly one of the largest sailing training events to be held on our shores for many years. Hosted by Lough Derg Yacht Club in Dromineer, Co Tipperary, the focus is on fun, friendship and learning new sailing skills.
The National Training Week marks the end of a long season for Optimist Sailors and their families. In keeping with previous years, its goal is to have as much fun as possible, with new friends made throughout the season and for older sailors to have one final get together before the end of the year.
Olympic Silver Medalist Annalise Murphy briefs sailors at a previous edition of the IODAI Optimist Training Week
The coaching ticket will be led by Thomas Chaix (FRA), Soren Laungesen (DEN) and Dennis Paaske (DEN). They will be joined by the best National and Regional coaches. Coaching endorsement prior to the event in Lough Derg will take place, which will see our home-grown talent and coaches being afforded the opportunity to grow and develop their own skill sets.
The Development Squad and the Under 12 team will join the Training Week. Over twenty sailors have applied for the IODAI Development Squad, which sees sailors transitioning from the regatta fleet into the main fleet as well as Bronze fleet sailors join together for their first experience of the National group. They will be led by coach Peter McCann from Cork. The Under 12 Team will be led by coach Frances Corkery. These U12 sailors will be taking their first steps together as they work towards the British National Championship in Weymouth next August.
The bookend to the IODAI Optimist National Training Week at Lough Derg Yacht Club will be the Halloween Regatta which incorporates the Crosbie Cup
The Optimist Fleet is one of the largest and most active in the country and is the most popular boat for kids to start sailing. IODAI have been working to see the establishment of up-to-date safeguarding policies and the collaboration with other stakeholders with regard to progressing from the Optimist to other double and single-hander classes. The National Training Week will see a series of workshops for both sailors and parents alike, focusing on sportsmanship, performance pathways, trials and team selection, sailor development and progression, racing rules, clinics and feedback sessions with class captains from around the country.
The focus is on fun, friendship and learning new sailing skills at the Optimist National Training Week at Lough Derg Yacht Club
Most importantly, National Training Week has a packed social programme with discos, wonderful food offerings and a play zone for the whole of the fleet to enjoy. The continued success of the racing and coached regatta fleets will see that even the very youngest of sailors feel fully part of the event and their Oppie family.
The bookend to the event will be the Halloween Regatta which incorporates the Crosbie Cup.
This event is sponsored by Grant Thornton, CH Marine and Dinghy Performance.
