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Quick Links
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Join Our List
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| OPTI CALENDAR*
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TTQ = TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIER
OGT = Tom "OPTIGUYTOM" Coleman GreenFleet Clinic
McLaughlin charters are available for all USODA events, NT and NDT practices. CLICK HERE
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US Sailing Youth Calendar
California Events
Florida Events
Chesapeake Bay Events
Long Island Sound
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4/29-5/2 USODA Team Trials Texas Corinthian Yacht Club
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6/17-20 ScotiaBank RegattaSt. Thomas yacht Club
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6/18-20 USODA Great Plains Clinic & Champs TTQ Ninnescah Sailing Assoc.
OGT (Juan Carlos too!)
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6/19-20 USODA Great Lakes Champs TTQ Chataqua Lake Yacht Club
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6/26-7/4 IODA North American Champs Kingston, Ontario, CAN
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7/2-4 USODA Gulf Coast Champs TTQ Pensacola Yacht Club OGT
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7/17-19 USODA Team Race National Championship Fishing Bay Yacht Club
7/20 USODA Girls National Championship Fishing Bay Yacht Club
7/21-24 USODA National Championship TTQ Fishing bay Yacht Club OGT
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8/10-15 Ripple Optimist Racing Clinic and USODA Pacific Coast Champs TTQ Columbia Gorge Racing Association OGT
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9/11-12 USODA Midwest Champs TTQ Pewaukee Yacht Club
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9/11-12 USODA West Coast Champs TTQ Cal Yacht Club
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9/25-27 USODA Southeast Champs TTQ Lake Norman Yacht Club OGT
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10/9-10 USODA Atlantic Coast Champs TTQ Tred Avon Yacht Club OGT
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11/24-27 USODA Midwinter Champs Southern yacht Club TTQ
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*check event website for updates
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Did you
know?
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Charter
fees can often
be applied to the purchase of a new or
chartered
Opti purchase.
Ask Spencer
about details. 800-784-6478
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Who Knew?
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OLIMPIC SAILS
POWERS 1st & 2nd PLACE VICTORIES AT IODA
SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPS
&
CONGRATULATIONS ON 2nd PLACE
TEAM McLAUGHLIN
JAVIER ARRIBAS
PER271
NEW PRO RACER OWNER!
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Who Knew?
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It's cheating!
The Optimist is arguably the most "one design" boat in the world. When we sail with a part that is not class legal (titanium mast step, sharkskin sail, carbon fiber anything, etc.) we are cheating. If we alter, or have altered, something on our spars, blades, hull or sail that causes it to become "out of measurement", we are cheating.
Be aware that onlylife jackets that are designated as "USCG Approved" are legal for racing under Class rules.
Be aware that anything that is not specifically spelled out in the
Class Rules
is probably ILLEGAL.
Be aware that your tiller and extension cannot measure longer than 750mm each, 1200mm combined.
Be aware that some "manufacturers" claim their hulls are made with vinylester resins and that would not be legal!
Be aware that ignorance of the rules can lead to severe penalties including DSQ at a major event where you are doing well!
Sail fast, sail fair!
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Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta & Clinic
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| After a rough winter... YOU DESERVE IT!
Have you ever sailed in water so blue as the sky, and
so clean the creatures crawling on the sea floor look like you could
reach out and touch them? Steve says "Parents will love the private
beach, tennis courts and fine dining. Bring back some rum....it's
cheap!" On your mark. Get Set. Register! The 2010 Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta is celebrating its 18th year, marking nearly two decades of promoting junior sailing in the Caribbean. The St. Thomas Yacht Club and Virgin Island Sailing Association-hosted and Caribbean Sailing Association-sanctioned regatta is set to sail June 17th to 20th, 2010 with pre-clinic June 14 to 16.
A record-breaking 100-plus 8 to 15 year-old junior sailors are expected to attend from throughout the Caribbean - including all three U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, St. Maarten and the Dominican Republic as well as the U.S. mainland and European nations such as Spain and Germany.
"The Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta is a fantastic family friendly regatta that offers awesome training for the upcoming North Americans in Canada and the Nationals in Virginia," says regatta director, Cindy Hackstaff.
The 2010 Regatta will celebrate its
18th year, marking nearly two decades of promoting
junior sailing in the Caribbean. This highly successful regatta would not have been possible without the support of Scotiabank, shipping company SeaStar, dedicated families like the Hackstaffs, Barrows, Hatfields and many others. McLaughlin has always been a major supporter supplying charters, parts and assistance when the regatta drew only 20.
...and yes, McLaughlin will be there waiting to serve you with charters and ALL YOUR OPTI NEEDS!
Special pricing for combined clinic and regatta. boats. Learn more about this fantastic regatta and clinic reading the Press Release (pdf)
Club website: www.styc.net |
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Opti clinics and training
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| CLICK FOR PDF - LARGE FILE | Our class is known for it's abundance of local, regional, national and even international regattas, most available to any Opti age sailor of any ability. But, what we've heard for years is "we need more clinics, more training opportunities for our sailors". Regatta organizers are becoming aware that including a clinic has many advantages. Not only does it attract more participants, but home-club sailors can benefit from the high level coaching and interaction with new sailors just before a regatta. One example is the famous RIPPLE CLINIC which will run for three days just previous to the IODA Pacific Coast Championship this August.
The Ripple Clinic was the brainchild of West Coast youth sailing program trendsetter Jan Visser. These clinics, known for their quality and ideal venue, started 6 years ago and have been growing in popularity ever since.
This year's world class coaches include Argy Resano, Luis "Dingo" Canuto, and GreenFleet guru, Tom Coleman who will also run GreenFleet at PCCs.
Other clinics we are aware of include:
June 14-16 - Scotiabank Clinic w/ Argy Resano, Bocha
and Dingo
June 18-20 - Ninnescah IODA Great Plains Champs
w/ Juan Carlos Romero and Tom Coleman
June 24-26 North Cape AdvancedOpti Clinic w/David
Tunnicliffe
GreenFleeters will always have a clinic associated with the
regattas designated OGT(OPTIGUYTOM) on our calendar at
left.
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Team Trial Charters - Early Practice Advantage!
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| McLaughlin is again raising the bar when it comes to supporting US Opti sailors. With a call (800-784-6478) or e-mail to Alisa we can reserve your race ready Opti hull, blades and spars for your use up to 2 weeks prior to this event. The extra charge.... none! Better yet... simply click this LINK and register for any one of over 27 events. Just be sure to contact us ASAP so we can get your reservation confirmed.  We have extended the deadline for US Sailors to reserve boats for the North American Championship until after TeamTrials and teamselection. |
Preseason Opti Maintenance
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| Here's what to look for and what to do about it
Inspect that mast collar lately? | How many times have you had a call from the yacht club or coach to discover Johnny's Optimist is broken because of something that you should have /could have fixed easily before the season? Now, rather than enjoy a beautiful spring afternoon, you're at the club doing fiberglass work rain or shine! Below is our short list of critical areas you can inspect before the season starts. Granted, some of these repairs may or may not be something you want to tackle, but they are all critical and if inspected and dealt with before the season you are more likely to have breakdown free performance plus save time and money. Your sailor will thank you! CLICK for PDF |
The McLaughlin Snipe / Opti Connection
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| Our fearless leader talks Snipes
Interview from 2009 Snipe masters regatta
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 Teen Circumnavigates St. Marteen
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| Fan mail and a great sea story
Dear Steve,
I continue to be reminded of
you and all the great advice and encouragement that you so generously dispersed
as Rh�ne continues to improve and break the outer limits he sets
himself. I send for your information and in a way of saying "thanks"
an account of his recent adventure which has hit the news headlines in the
Caribbean in the last few weeks. Enjoy the article and photos.
Ruargh Findlay Photos are in column to the left.
CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE IN ALL AT SEA |
Finally - Hiking Straps That Don't Roll Over
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OPTIPARTS EX1450
Optiparts sets the standard for great products for the Optimist (Laser and 420 too!). Last year they improved their padded hiking strap with the addition of lifting eyes at the forward end. This year the addition of a formed eye keeps the strap flat so your foot stays on the padded side - it doesn't roll over. We believe these are the best hiking straps availble. That's why we use them exclusively on every model.
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Our Opti Sailors Abroad
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| Last week we had no less than 55 US
Opti sailors at regattas in Uruguay, Italy and Holland - what are all
the other junior sailors doing?
IODA SA Champs web page report
2010 Team USA - IODA South American Championship
Below - USA1 winners of the Nations Cup teamracing Championship
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Lake Garda International Optimist regatta
Lake Garda - TeamUSA
Below - The beauty of Lake Garda and a portion of the nearly 1000 Optis racing at this event.
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Opti 2010 Easter regatta in Holland Day-by-Day
Easter regatta - TeamUSA
Below - TeamUSA on the waters of Lake Braassemermeer
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LIFESAIL - A Great Program Needs a Little Help
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| CLICK FOR VIDEO LINK |
"Providing hope to the
underprivileged and disadvantaged through the character-building
discipline of sailing and seamanship." I was privileged to meet President and founder Matt Schultz at last year's USODA Nationals at Cabrillo Beach. He runs a terrific organization that really "gives" to the children. Please consider a donation. Specifically they are looking for used sailing gear, drysuits, spray tops, boot and life jackets in good shape which are very needed to outfit the kids and teen "sailors-to-be". A monetary donation is ALWAYS welcome! LifeSail was established to promote a character-building experience
through sailing & seamanship. We educate students of all ages in
theory and practice, in small craft sailing along with dinghy handling
equipped with outboard engines. Call them at 800-249-6213 or e-mail to info@LifeSail.com
Life Sail is a non-profit 501(c)(3) registered organization.
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We hope you enjoy our newsletters and if you do, won't you please forward to your friends? We appreciate that!
Simply click on the bright blue Forward email hot link below. Thanks!!
Sincerely,
Tom Coleman
Mclaughlin Optimist / OPPI / Optiparts |
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