And then there is the McLaughlin sponsored OPTIGUYTOM GREENFLEET CLINIC at both events for those new or beginning in racing.

REGISTER FOR ALL USODA EVENTS BEGINS HERE

WHY TRAVEL? Here's what one Opti Mom, Ellen Liebenberg (Mom of now 29er standout David Liebenberg), put so eloquently (a few years back) about the benefits, not only to the sailor, but to the entire family:

We have such superb sailing conditions most of the year and a terrific coach. What is the point of traveling to regattas outside the San Francisco Bay area? This was our thinking two years ago when the Opti program was just beginning on San Francisco bay. Our son and three equally motivated friends, all aged 10 or 11, had been sailing Optis for three months when it was suggested that the kids travel to New Orleans for the Optimist Midwinters. All four kids went, and experienced their first large (200 boats!) regatta.

Now almost two years later, all four are on the US National Team. These kids have traveled, sometimes on multiple occasions, to Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Belgium to participate in various USODA and IODA events. What have they gotten out of it?

READ ON...

and print the following and give to Opti parents!

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CLICK HERE FOR PROMOTIONAL PDF FOR YOUR PROGRAM'S BULLETIN BOARD

NO LATE REGISTRATION FEES!

The Pensacola Yacht Club, host to the Championship, has graciously eliminated the late registration fee.  The organizers understand sailors' reluctance to commit early to the Gulf Coast event given the circumstances.  Local sailors, waterman and hydrological experts are confident the protected Bay waters will be safe and enjoyable for the racing this coming Fourth of July Weekend.

Sign up today to show your support and to encourage other sailors to join the fun !

Rob Rowlands
Executive Director

SAFE AND UNSPOILED - y'all come on down!

Regatta organizers are aware that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a concern for those considering attending the USODA Gulf Coast Championship.  We share your concerns and will do everything possible to keep you informed with factual information in a timely manner.

The oil in the Gulf is not expected to impact Pensacola Bay where the regatta will be held.  The Bay has a small entrance to the Gulf of Mexico with substantial fresh water filling the Bay from rivers and bayous then exiting the Bay to the Gulf. Very little water actually enters the Bay from the Gulf.

The racing areas will be located 5 to 6 miles from the Bay entrance.  While there has been much recent attention regarding the oil reaching the Pensacola Beach (which is outside the protected Bay) the ultimate impact has been minimal. Oil has not been found inside the mouth of the Bay.   For a nearly "real time" update on the conditions in Pensacola, please visit www.visitpensacola.com, and go to the "Oil Spill: Curious About Our Coast" tab. 

We are planning on a great regatta, and hope you'll join us!

Bruce Partington
GCC Regatta Chair

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Status update as of June 22, 2010

photo taken at Pensacola Beach, June 20, 2010

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The beaches of Pensacola Beach and Perdidio Key are open for swimming. Visit Pensacola is closely monitoring official sources related to the oil spill, and we will share information as it comes in.

Field monitors report that Pensacola Beach looks clean and clear. Monitors on Perdido Key report several areas with five percent or less tar ball coverage. According to NOAA, tar balls do not pose a health risk to the average person, but visitors are advised not to pick them up. To read NOAA's information about tar balls, click here. County officials are closely patrolling the beaches from Perdido Key to Park East on Pensacola Beach, and skimmer vessels respond to reports of oil sightings as needed.

Harvesting of fish is allowed east of the Pensacola Beach Water tower. Otherwise, an executive order (please refer to FAQ link above) has been issued to temporarily close a portion of coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish, crabs and shrimp, it is catch-and-release only.

Perdido Pass and Pensacola Pass will be navigationally restricted during flood (incoming) tide as water enters the bay, and will reopen during ebb (outgoing) tide as water flows out to the gulf.

The Intracoastal Waterway remains open.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and are here to help answer your vacation questions. Please check with your hotels and rental properties as many of them have relaxed their cancellation policies to better meet your travel needs during this time.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEIR INCREDIBLE WEBSITE...

PLEASE VISIT NOW!

CLICK HERE TO BE AMAZED - 2010 NATIONALS

Summer is here and the time is right to be sailing in an Optimist at the USODA Layline National Championships!

How much sailing is on your calendar this summer?  Are you attending a summer sailing program?  Practicing with an Opti team in your area?  Sailing in your free time?  Whatever you are doing this summer and wherever you travel, make sure to incorporate Deltaville, VA. and the Fishing Bay Yacht Club into your plans.

The 2010 USODA Layline National Championship regatta promises to be the event of the summer and of the entire year as sailors from across the country and around the world are planning their travels to attend the #1 Optimist event of the season.  Want more incentive?  The top 50% of US Eligible sailors at the USODA Layline National Championship regatta will qualify to compete in the 2011 Layline US Optimist Team Trial Invitational Regatta which is the single qualifying event for the US Optimist Team for 2011. 

Now is the time to check the USODA registration system. Login to the Members Only area and verify that you are registered for any or all 3 segments of the USODA Layline National Championship regatta (including Team Race Nationals, Girls Nationals and "Fleet Race" Nationals) before the deadline on JUNE 20 (EXTENDED).  You know that you want to sail your Opti, sign up today before it is too late.

If you have questions or need help registering for the regatta, please feel free to contact any USODA Board Member as listed in Opti News and on the Website.

Layline is proud to be the Platinum sponsor of USODA and all class functions.  You can visit their Website at http://www.layline.com. 

Dave Hein
Board Member, USODA

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED


We understand that some prospective registrants for Fleet Nationals were not aware of the Late Fee imposition at Midnight June 20, and may have inadvertently missed the deadline.  This issue was compounded by a brief outage of the third party hosting server hardware for USODA's website in the evening hours of June 20.

Accordingly, the Host Club, FBYC, and USODA have extended the Late Fee imposition for Fleet Nationals until Midnight EDT July 1, 2010.  Any late fess collected prior to to July 1 will be refunded as a credit on the charge card.

The Very Late Fees posted on the USODA Website will remain in effect for Fleet Nationals, effective Midnight EDT July 4, and for Girls Nationals, effective Midnight EDT July 12.

Rob Rowlands
Executive Director, USODA

The Optimist North American Championship is approaching fast. More than 200 sailors will gather in Kingston, Canada for 5 days of tough competition. Just a few days later, another even larger fleet will gather in Kamien-Pomorski, Poland for the Optimist Europeans.

This year, both events will feature live tracking. Available on the internet, it will feature race analysis, mark roundings and real time standings. You can follow specific sailors or teams - easy to use with replays of all races also available.

You can follow all of these events and more on Facebook, Twitter and the Live Event Tracking viewer.