Optinam 2013 Starts With Parade Of Teams
The official opening of the 2013 International Optimist Dinghy Association [IODA] North American Championship will take place on Thursday [July 4] at 6.30pm in Queen Elizabeth Park.
180 competitors from 19 countries plus their team leaders and coaches will parade from Point Pleasant next to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, up Front Street and then partially up Queen St before entering the park to be greeted by the Sea Cadets. The procession will be led by the Bermuda Regiment band.
“Local officials and dignitaries including the Governor, His Excellency the Hon. George Ferguson, will welcome the competitors to Bermuda, some of whom have come from as far as Singapore, Japan and New Zealand”, a spokesperson said.
“Team Bermuda consists of 20 sailors and is one of the larger teams sailing in the regatta. All teams will be wearing their team uniforms and will designate a flag bearer to lead their country.
“Optinam”, as it is commonly called, will be declared officially “open” by Quino Nigaglioni, IODA Vice President from Puerto Rico and all attention will then fall on Bermuda’s famous Gombey’s to close the ceremony.
“Members of the public are encouraged to join the sailors for the opening festivities and witness the start of the largest single one-design class championship ever to grace Bermuda’s shores”.
Racing starts on Friday [July 5] and will continue on Saturday in the Great Sound. Sunday’s [July 7] sailing will take place just off the Fairmont Hamilton Princess dock.
Spectators will be able to witness the Team Racing event, which will see countries field four boat teams to race against each other in a knockout round robin format.
After a day off on Monday, individual racing continues in the Great Sound on July 9th and 10th with a prize presentation following racing on the last day at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, host hotel for the regatta.
Optinam 2013 is organized by the Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association [BODA] in conjunction with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club [RBYC]. The land based headquarters for the regatta is Barr’s Bay Park.
