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 SCOR
sailing school has 8 fully equipped Optimist boats. Optimist
class boat is worldwide most accepted for beginners and
learning to sail.
Optimist is designed for children. Simple to steer and
children are sailing it fearlessly. There are 150.000 boys
and girls worldwide sailing Optimist boat in more then 100
countries. It is not just the biggest fleet of small
dinghies but is also fastest growing.
Optimist class is the only class recognized by International
Sailing Federation (ISAF) for competition exclusively under
age of 16. More than 50% of Olympic medallists have started
their career in the Optimist.
Its length is 2.31 m, width 1.13 and weighs 35 kg. Simple
for transportation could be set even on the car roof. It is
safe for 8 year olds but also exiting for 15 year olds. Sail
in Optimist could start at age of 7-8 years, but it is not
late to start even at age of 12 even for top achievements.
At
what age children could actively compete depends on how we
define competition. As soon as they get confidence that
comes pretty soon, they would desire to be faster and better
of their mates. The secret is to let children decide
themselves up to which level they want to go not the level
their parents think of.
However, children could compete up to year in which they
reach age of 15. Other limitations are height and weight and
is very individual. Rule should be simple and let children
sail in the Optimist until they can and as long as they
enjoy doing it.
Every year World and continental championships are organized
where best sailors of each country take part. There are more
then 50 regattas organized in Croatia annually. They all
count for national ranking list used to determine national
team for world and European championship. Croatian sailors
achieved remarkable results in this class and in other
classes too.
Filip Matika was twice world champion in this class klasi.
Igor Marenić, Cres native together with Šime Fantela in sole
2009. became World and European champions in Olimpic class
470 and won silver medal at Mediterranean Games.
Do
you know how Igor started his sailing career? In the
Optimist class and in the sailing school that was jointly
established by Sailing Club of Rijeka, SCOR and Sailing club
Reful of Cres.
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