History of the class in South Africa

USA / UK 1984

Back: Gary Farrow, Graham Bryant, John Leighton. Front: Ian Statham, Simon James.

In 1984, a team (Graham Bryant, Gary Farrow, Simon James, lan Statham, John Leighton) went to the US nationals and the North Americans. I had hired a camper for us to stay in, that was quite fun. Dave Orton was OCRA president at the time and he had been to the Worlds in Canada as Country rep (that was always allowed). In Canada he had bought 5 boats (from the regatta) and organised to have them moved to Annapolis where the first regatta was. That was also a headache, because he trailer was not licensed for the USA and the boats did not have Coast Guard approval (which all US boats must have). So we ignored the trailer issue and talked a local boat builder into giving us the CG stickers for on the boats. I then sold the boats to the Americans for one of their clubs as had been arranged by Dave Orton. Never a dull moment! After that we still went to the UK and sailed the Nationals there. Graham got a third overall, so our standard was good in those days!

Report & photographs by Hans Thijsse

US Nationals 1984

United States National Optimist Dinghy Championships. 6 – 9 August 1984. United States Naval Academy and Severn Sailing Association, Annapolis, Maryland