This weekend some of Britain’s top up and coming young sailors are looking forward to an exciting week of racing at the annual Volvo Gill Optimist British National and Open Championships. Over 500 British and International competitors, including sailors from France, Finland, Dubai, Hong Kong and the USA will once again take to the shores of Pwllheli Sailing Club to battle it out for Championship titles.

Racing is from Monday 13th – to Friday 17th August and the event notoriously attracts top young talent looking for competitive, first class racing.

“We are looking forward to heading back to Pwllheli Sailing Club for the Volvo Gill Optimist British National and Open Championships. It is a fantastic venue for racing and always delivers a great mix of sailing conditions. This is the 51st Optimist National Championships and we are pleased to see the class continue to attract so many enthusiastic young sailors who are looking for fun but competitive racing.” Said Simon Rogers, IOCA UK Chairman.

Racing throughout the week will be split into five separate categories, the Senior Fleet for those aged thirteen to fifteen, the Junior Fleet for those aged eight to twelve, Regatta Racing aged eight and above and for those that are looking for transition to the Junior fleet, Regatta Coaching for those competing at the event for the first time and Mini Racers aged eight and nine, who are just learning to sail. 

In the Senior fleet racing will be highly charged as always with 2012 World Championship squad members, who have recently returned from the Championships in Boca Chica, the Dominican Republic looking to perform against overseas competition.

Aaron Holman (15, Hollowell Sailing Club) will be looking to defend his 2011 title and Max Clapp (13, Royal Southern Yacht Club) will be looking for an upgrade after finishing second in the Junior fleet.

Fellow World squad member, Milo Gill Taylor (12, Spinnaker Yacht club/ Royal Lymington Yacht Club) will be looking for a repeat performance of last year where he finished first just one point ahead of Max. In the Regatta fleet, 2011 Volvo Gill Optimist Inland Champion, Haydn Swell will be looking for more success after an impressive first place finish in May at the Volvo Gill Optimist Championships, Graftham Water Sailing Club in May.

2012 has been an exciting year for British sailing and the Optimist class with a number of the country’s top sailing talent and former Optimist sailors battling for gold this summer. These sailors act as a huge inspiration for the next generation of Olympic sailors.   

 “I started my career sailing an Optimist dinghy and the Volvo Optimist National Championships were always an important event for me and one I enjoyed competing at. It is great that the class continues to go from strength to strength, building such talented young sailors and I wish everyone competing next week the best of luck.”  Said 1992 Optimist National Champion, Ben Ainslie who this week became the most successful Olympic sailor ever after winning his fourth consecutive gold medal.

Volvo support the five key British Optimist events; the Spring, Inland, National, End of Season and Winter Championships. It is the 11th year Volvo have supported the class and the second year of joint partnership with official clothing supplier, Gill.

For full entry lists of the National Championships please visit www.optimistsailing.org.uk

Jenny Hunter – Gill

See  dinghies & skiffs images

Optimist sailing

The Optimist is a single-handed dinghy, designed to teach young children how to sail in safety and up to a high standard. The International Optimist Class Association UK (IOCA) organises throughout the year learn to sail programmes, Area open training and three National Championships. There are around 65 active Optimist Flotillas around the country based at local sailing clubs and on inland lakes and reservoirs.

Volvo and Sailing

Volvo began its global association with sailing in 1997, since then Volvo Car UK has sponsored sailing in the UK from the grass roots to the pinnacle of the sport. Volvo sponsors the three National Championships; the Inland Championships, the National Championships and the End of Season Championship. They have developed a sponsorship portfolio that includes Team Volvo, Volvo RYA Youth National Championship and the Volvo RYA Youth Programme, Volvo RYA Champion Clubs and the Volvo Gill Optimist Championships. All the UK sponsorships support the pinnacle of Volvo’s global sponsorship, The Volvo Ocean Race.

Gill 

Gill was established in the 1970’s by founder and Chairman Nick Gill, a passionate dinghy sailor who was frustrated by the lack of clothing for dinghy sailing. Gill is a very rare thing these days, a company that only does one thing: making ultra-technical sailing clothing. As well as this exciting new three year partnership as Official Clothing Sponsor to the International Optimist Class Association (IOCA-UK) Gill also sponsors a variety of events and classes including Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week and their very own Gill Race Team to support sailors who are at the forefront of their class

Last Updated ( Sunday, 12 August 2012 )