VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR OPTIMIST DINGHY CHAMPIONSHIPS Friday 10th April 2015
North American Optimist Dinghy Championships 5th - 12th July 2015
More spots for sailors recently granted . . . for more information check out: optinam2015.org.
The Antigua Yacht Club is hosting the North American Optimist Dinghy Championships which will be run out of Nelson's Dockyard. This is quite an undertaking and, in oder to do it, we are importing 175 Optimists which means we will have 175 young sailors who will need looking after both on the water and on land. Optimists sailors are 8 to 15 year olds and whilst many of them would probably out sail most of us, we are still responsible for ensuring their safety and welfare plus we need to put on a regatta to be remembered.
To this end we need two things - boats and volunteers.
Starting with the boats, we need a Committee Boat, ideally a catamaran around 40 foot, three other 25 foot plus boats to act as line observation and finish boats. We also need a Press Boat. Wadadli Cats are providing a Spectator Boat. In addition, we need RIBs, plenty of them. We are importing ten 14 foot RIBs but still need more. The yacht club's RIB will be used by the Official Photographer. The imported RIBs will be for the use of the team coaches but we need Safety Boats and other Support Boats. Our budget is very tight as this event loses money but we will pay for fuel and other reasonable costs.
If you have a boat or know someone who does and are prepared to loan it to the event, please get in touch.
The other thing we need is volunteers, lots of them. We have to launch and recover 175 dinghies every day and there will be all kinds of other things which will need doing from distribution of water and lunches to the manning of the Committee Boat and Safety Boats. We would like to see school children involved but we still need plenty of adults. If you are able to volunteer, please let us know.
In the recent past, too many people have commented that Antigua Yacht Club doesn't seem to be about sailing any more. This is all about sailing and, if we do it well, there will be more opportunities to do other events. Not only is this good for sailing but it is also good for Antigua tourism especially at a quiet time of year.
Contact: John J Duffy - Optimist Committee
+1 268 725 2840 - optimists@yachtclub.ag
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