The Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) announced 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.”
Mark 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.”
|
