Optimist End of Season 13 Nov 2007

We have finished an excellent season with the Optimists. This year saw the largest pond group for a long time and so we have a good foundation of new sailors joining the Optimist river fleets next year. The river fleets have had a good showing all through the year.

We had a fabulous Otter Week, the weather was a little lively but it never stopped the sailing and the new format of cross fleet sailing/socialising combined to make the best event I can remember.

This year we also partnered with the Burnham Sailing Club to offer some joint RYA training; the three sessions run were very well supported by both clubs and we plan to repeat this in 2008. In addition we had the two day Optimist Open in July with in excess of 80 boats entered. The event was a tremendous success and will be repeated in 2008 as a combined clubs Optimist event on the weekend of the 12/13th July – we hope to break the 100 boat barrier next year.

Well done to all those who have received cups either at Otter Week or at the End of Season Prize Giving. There are too many names to mention but I would just like to congratulate everyone; there is not one of our Optimist fleet sailors who has not demonstrated improvement this year. In addition we have good Otter representation in the winter training of IOCA/RYA at Intermediate, Development and Zone level, once again highlighting our ability to recruit and train talented sailors.

GOODBYE OPPIES – HALLO TOPPERS
We say goodbye to some of our Oppie sailors who have just got too big to sail their boats. However we have decided to start a Topper fleet in 2008 to accommodate them and so many of these sailors are now out purchasing Toppers – we are looking forward to a quick growth in the number of Toppers gracing our dinghy park in 2008.

Well done to all for a great year and well done to the sailors for all the enthusiasm, good spirit and hard sailing.