A brief word from the NZ Country Rep

2005 World Optimist Championships : Switzerland

So what is a Country Rep ? Basically my job was to attend the Optimist Class A.G.M. ( broken into 4 sessions over 3 days ) and put forward the view of N.Z.I.O.D.A. I also attended the Technical meeting and met with other Reps. to discuss the future of the class. In between all this I was just another supportive parent who did some coaching in Valencia before the NZ team journeyed to Lake Silvplana, Switzerland for the World Championship.

The technical meeting chaired by Irishman Dr. Curly Morris had no revelations. The 'new rig design' competition is being promoted in order to increase the power of the rig which seemed interesting after abolishing the big top sails. Quote ,Curly Morris,

" If it works it works, otherwise we'll stick with what we have."

The optimist builders present, showed concern when China offered charter boats free of charge for the next Europeans …sounds great, but I.O.D.A do not want one company having a monopoly as class builders. Interestingly enough there were 23 different makes of optimist s measured in at the 2005 Worlds.

There was other minor discussion on items such as handles on the centre case shockcord ( which were not allowed at the worlds but no one could give a good reason why not ) wind pennants on the bow, 'beefing up' the gudgeon attachment area on the hull etc.

The main things to come out of the AGM were the confirmation of the 2006 Worlds in Montevideo, Uruguay ( Dec 29th 2006 &endash; January 9th 2007 ) and the voting in of Golfo Di Cagliari, Sardinia , Italy for the 2007 Worlds ( 16th-27th July to be confirmed) From the presentations both look like great venues.

The Asian members were keen to confirm NZ in the Asian Sailing Championships , Taipei, Taiwan in 2006. This regatta looks to be developing in depth with China, and now Malaysa being strengths in Optimist sailing, and with a 'closed door' at the North Americans ( it has out grown itself and there are still concerns even about American countries not being allocated enough places ) it seems a very good option for our 6th &endash; 10th in the NZ Nationals ( and a lot cheaper than getting to Europe )

The countries that secured these major championships saw it as a real coup and there was much celebration afterwards from them as they seized an opportunity to show- case their backyard.

The highlight of the 2005 Worlds for me would have been the securing of 3rd place in the team racing on St Moritz Lake. The Kiwis did exceptionally well in knocking off the European ( Great Britain )and World Champions ( Poland ) on their way to a bronze medal. With country against country, this part of the regatta still evokes more passion and emotion than the individual section, so to taste success was even sweeter. It was also entertaining to see the Chinese squirm as one competitor noticed Wei Ni, 2004 World Champion, still using his now illegal big top sail he used on 2004, several races into the 2005 Worlds and part way through the Team Racing. Yes it had slipped through the measurement. Amazingly, after a few red faces he was allowed to continue the regatta with a new sail, and without any penalty !

Switzerland was a great experience and I thank ,Paul, Dan, Carl, Luke and Jason for the effort and commitment they put in. Third in the Team racing, 6th overall country, and some great individual race performances made it all worthwhile. It was always going to be a big ask to better 2004.

As a venue for a World Championship I would say be wary of small lakes in the Swiss Mountains. If you get the good wind direction its fine but even the Swiss describe their legendary Maloja wind as 'quirky'. If it blows from the other direction it is very difficult to get races away as the OD found on the last day. ( 11 out of 15 races completed ).

To the Worlds team and all that supported the Worlds team, thanks , and I guess we'll see you on Pupuke over the next few months.

Good sailing

Bruce Deegan

Country Rep. 2005