The Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) is proud to announce the sailors for the 2025 Optimist World Championship in Portorož, Slovenia, 26th June – 6th July.
This year's event will feature over 250 sailors from around the world, with Bermuda's five representatives competing amongst the world's best young sailors.
Bermuda Team:
• Emma Brown (RHADC)
• Harry Brown (RHADC)
• Thomas McBain (RBYC)
• Heath Meyers (RBYC)
• Jesse Savage (RHADC)
Coach: Pablo Weber Team Leader: David Brown
The team has successfully completed an intensive training programme both in Bermuda and overseas, including competing at the JK Pirat Portorož Easter Regatta in April to familiarise themselves with the conditions in Slovenia at the World's regatta location.
The valuable experience gained from competing in various conditions against some of the best sailors in Europe has been extremely beneficial as the team prepared for the World Championships.
The familiarity with the venue, local conditions and international competition has set a strong foundation for continued improvement.
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 amongst 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."
Mark concluded, "We are immensely grateful to the Bermuda Sailing Association, our local clubs 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 are you looking forward to most about meeting sailors from around the world?
• Emma Brown, "Making friends and seeing how different peoples lives are around the world"
• Thomas McBain, "I'm looking forward to making new friends and learning from the better sailors around the world."
How has Optimist sailing shaped you as a person?
• Emma Brown, "I've become more confident and sailing has taught me to be more resilient as things don't always go your way"
• Harry Brown, "It has made me more competitive and more confident"
What would 10-year-old you think about you going to Worlds?
• Emma Brown, "10 year old me would say 'wow I must of gotten a lot better'"
• Harry Brown, "'wouldn't believe it'"
• Heath Meyers, "I would be in shock, and I could not have even imagined it, as I had just begun sailing for the first time."
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