Planning for the Optimist Class takes place in Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca, 8 Match 2024 - The leaders of the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) met today at the Real Club Náutico de Palma to address the future of this class, crucial in the training of future sailors worldwide.

IODA's fundamental objectives are to ensure the class rules are respected and to promote balanced and fair regattas worldwide, as well as to establish the conditions for Optimist World and Continental Championships and determine their locations.

The Optimist class officials meet twice a year, one usually within the framework of the World Championship and the other, called the IODA Mid-Year Meeting, halfway through the season. In the Palma meeting, the work direction for the next year has been set, and also, thinking long term, for the next five years.

Kevin Whitcraft, president of IODA, explained that two basic aspects were addressed in the meeting held in Mallorca: "On one hand, strengthening the relationships between class members and athletes, coaches, and builders, and on the other hand, increasing the number of young sailors in Optimist, the world's largest class, because this way we will have more adult sailors."

The president of IODA emphasized the health of the Optimist, stating that "it is a class that continues to grow year by year and has 128 associated countries and nearly 400,000 boats."

For Whitcraft, "the success of this boat, which is 70 years old, is that it is a one-design, so all boats are the same and the regattas are fair. Moreover, it is a very safe boat, making it ideal for getting started in sailing."

This is not the first time Kevin Whitcraft has visited Mallorca. The top official of the Optimist class, is a cruiser racer and has participated in the Copa del Rey and as owner of the TP 52 Vayu, will also participate in the next edition of the PalmaVela Sailing Week.

In the photo, Kevin Whitcraft and the president of RCNP, Rafael Gil, today at RCNP.