Five Sailors To Compete In 2024 Optimist World
Five young sailors — Noah Amaradasa, Evan Davis, Nina Gotfredsen, Rory Savage and Miguel Powers — will represent Bermuda at the 2024 Optimist World Championship in Argentina from December 5–15.
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association [BODA] is proud to announce the sailors for the 2024 Optimist World Championship in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, December 5th – 15th. This year’s event will feature 227 sailors from 52 participating countries.
Five outstanding young sailors will represent Bermuda:
- Noah Amaradasa [Mount Saint Agnes]
- Evan Davis [Saltus Grammar School]
- Nina Gotfredsen [Warwick Academy]
- Rory Savage [Warwick Academy]
- Miguel Powers [Warwick Academy]
- Coach: Pablo Weber
- Team Leader: Pamela Saraiva
“All team members are affiliated with the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club and will compete in their final Optimist-class international regatta before aging out of the category.
“The championship features an intensive training and competition schedule designed to challenge the young sailors. Athletes will begin with four critical practice days focused on acclimating to Mar Del Plata’s challenging large swells and complex currents, followed by two qualifying days of individual competition to determine divisional rankings. The event will then transition to two days of team racing in a knock-out format, culminating in two fleet racing days across four competitive divisions [Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Emerald] to ultimately determine the final championship placings.”
BODA President, Mark Soares said, “The participation of these sailors at the international championship level is a testament to the skill, dedication and resilience of Bermuda’s young athletes. Through BODA’s High-Performance Programme, we remain committed to developing the next generation of world-class sailors. Under the expert guidance of National Coach Pablo Weber, our athletes are prepared not just to compete but to excel among the world’s top Optimist sailors in this year’s championship. We wish our sailors the very best as they take on this incredible challenge and represent Bermuda on the global stage. Their countless hours of training and unwavering dedication to prepare for this event are truly impressive and deserve the highest admiration.”
Mr Soares concluded, “We are immensely grateful to the Bermuda Sailing Association, as well as to our network of donors, parents and volunteers. Their steadfast support makes these transformative opportunities possible and motivates us to continue striving for excellence.”
Sailor quotes:
- What’s been your biggest learning moment in your Opti career?
Miguel Power stated, “My biggest learning moment was when I was sailing in the 2021 trials for the World Championships and it was a day with around 20 knots and I wasn’t fit enough. On the last race of the day, I had major pain in my stomach area. It turns out that it was actually my abs not being fit enough. To this day, I remember this moment and make sure I am as fit as possible for all my competitions.”
- How has Optimist sailing shaped you as a person?
Miguel Power said, “The optimist has made me a resilient person and has given me a better mentality to work for things, such as doing well in sailing itself and also my exams at school.”
Evan Davis said, “Optimist sailing has really shaped who I am by teaching me to stay calm under pressure and focus on what I can control. It’s helped me learn that even when things don’t go as planned, staying composed and adapting is what makes the difference.”
- What are you looking forward to most at Worlds?
Miguel Power stated, “At the worlds I am looking forward to the sailing of course but I am also looking forward to seeing all the people I have met in previous competitions.”
Rory Savage said, “It is really nice that is the last regatta to end my “career” on because I age out on December 31, 2024.”
- What was the most challenging thing about preparing for Argentina?
Nina Godfredson said, “Preparing for the massive swells that I have only seen in photos.”
Noah Amaradasa said, “Preparing for Argentina has been really challenging, but also rewarding. It’s taken countless hours of sailing, intense fitness training, and staying focused on improving every day. Balancing training with school has been tough, but I know it’s all worth it to compete at this level.”
Evan Davis said, “The most challenging part about preparing for Argentina has been learning how to adapt to new challenges. Every day brings something different, whether it’s mastering new techniques, improving my mental focus, or adjusting to the conditions I’ll face. It’s all about staying flexible and pushing myself to grow as a sailor.”
- What would 10-year-old you think about you going to Worlds?
Nina Godfredson said, “My 10 year old self would never have believed she would go to Worlds, but she would be really proud of herself knowing she made it.”
Noah Amaradasa said, “We did it – Worlds!”
