This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
While the quarter has a month yet to run we have some news to share that cannot wait, so our first quarterly report is early.
Western Cape Championships – Mossel Bay
This event is a qualifier for Selections 2018 so please remember your sailor needs to compete in at least two of these events in order to be considered for Selections 2018.
Go to http://sailing.org.za/wp/?tribe_events=wc-provincials to enter. Camping as available and can be booked on the same website.
If you were selected to compete in this year’s Selections Regatta (over the same dates as the WC Champs) please ensure you have received the separate entry form. Shellee has mailed these to you.
Please note training will be provided on the 10th to the 13th April at Mossel Bay by Claire Walker. Preference will be given to the Selections Squad, however if you would like your child to join this training and they aren’t part of the Selections Squad, please contact Claire and she will add you to the waiting list.
Once Selections 2017 is complete and the two teams for Worlds and Africans are chosen, the Coach as well as Manager for both teams will be announced. A full coaching plan and schedule will also be announced.
We need your HELP!
We have had a new trailer built in Krugerdorp and need to get it down to Cape Town. If anyone is travelling down to Mossel Bay please can we ask you to tow it down for us and we will compensate you for petrol. Its a light steel framed trailer. Please contact Andre Wollheim awollheim@tarsus.co.za if you can assist.
New Optimists from Far East
Optimist sailing SA have applied for 5 Optimists through a development program run by the Chinese Yachting Association and Far East Boats. Our challenge is in getting these boats to South Africa is quite complicated as we require an importers permit and because it is a donation this is proving to be a problem. If any of our parents knows the ins and outs of importing goods please contact Andre Wollheim awollheim@tarsus.co.za if you can assist.
Annual Subs are now due
Your annual subscription to the Optimist Sailing SA class association is now due. You are required to be a class member to sail in any SAS sanctioned event. Please contact Paul Tyler if you have not received the renewal notice – paul@rmsshopfitting.co.za
Why do you need to pay yours subs? The Optimist Class is required to be a member of IODA which is the worldwide governing body of Optimist Sailing. Our yearly fee to be a member is over R5000 and we pay this amount from our membership subscriptions.
The Optimist Class also represents you at all SAS meetings to ensure the class gets the best deal when it comes to sailing regattas, funding, training and selection to international events such as the Chinese Cultural training exchange.
Download membership form here
Yours in Oppie sailing
André Wollheim
President – Optimist Sailing SA
Western Cape Optimist Association Quarterly Report. January – March 2017
Activity
The WC Oppie guys have had a busy 1st quarter since the Youth Nationals in December, with the 3rd Southern Charter Classic and then various club activities, including the Zeekoevlei Yacht Club Championship (well done to Ross MacKinnon from MAC for winning the Oppie A’s and to Dean Carstens for cleaning up the B fleet). There has been some notable activity in Europe with Matt Ashwell attending the Palomos Trophy Regatta in Spain, then Chiara Fruet and Alex Falcon competing in the International Crotone Race in Italy. Alex Falcon found his legs in the second half of the regatta, commendably placing 3rd in the silver fleet. The Western Province Interschools takes place next weekend. This is the best regatta in the country to watch (in my view), as the start line is 20 yards away from the spectators. And then it is onto the Western Cape Championships in Mossel Bay (14th – 18th April). This forms part of the selections for the Africans and Worlds Optimist teams and there are more applicants than places available on both teams, so it should be competitive to say the least.
Finances
OPTIMIST SAILING SA is tiny in comparison to most other countries’ Oppie Class Associations, and it operates on a shoestring. Annual subs have been due since February; please pay yours if you haven’t. It keeps us affiliated to IODA and thus maintains the ability for our sailors to compete internationally.
Training
Training for the potential Worlds and Africans teams is proving problematic in the Western Cape. Over the years it seems that a culture of parents organising different training programmes at will, sometimes at very short notice, with one parent saddled with collecting fees and dispensing them in turn for coaching and RIB rentals. Anyone who has attended Oppie regattas abroad will testify that the administrative structures in junior sailing are far more organised and rigid. In terms of training, a falling or fall-out approach is generally adopted.
Why not in SA?
Another potential sore point for the Africans and Worlds Team’s is that exclusive training schedules robs good sailors of the club sailing scene. How do we balance this? Again for discussion at Mossel Bay.
Cal Tomlinson
Chairman – Western Cape Optimist Association
Training Coordinator – Optimist Sailing SA