New Parents and sailors: 

This page is intended for sailors and parents who have already bought their boat and have attended at least one event on the IODAI circuit, probably in Regatta Fleet.  It’s for parents who want to find out more about the IODAI system and how their sailor can progress within the class.

Below you will find answers to the following questions.  If you have other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact editor@iodai.com

(Webmaster’s note: Unfortunately these FAQ’s are currently in a simple list form.  All questions are in a numbered list at the top and you will have to scroll down to find the required answer.  I hope to link questions and answers in due course but thought it most important to get the info on the site)

1.    When should a sailor move form Regatta Fleet to main Fleet?

2.    What Training is available?

3.    What is the ISA Squad?

4.    What are the rankings?

5.    What are the trials?

6.    Who is invited to the trials?

7.    Who qualifies for the Worlds Team?

8.    Who qualifies for the European Team?

9.    How many Reserves are there for the Teams?

10.  Who gets a Green Life Jacket?

11.  Who qualifies for the teams in 2009

12.  What IS an Under 12?

13.  How do sailors qualify for the Under 12 Squad?

14.  What does the Under 12 Squad do?

15.  What Training is there for Squads and Teams?

16.  What is Braassemermeer?

17.  How do sailors qualify for Braassemermeer?

18.  What training is there outside Ireland for sailors not in a Squad or Team?

19.  How do I get a sail number for a new Optimist?

20.  I’ve bought a boat without a certificate.  How do I get a new one?

21.  How do I find a measurer?

22.  What is the maximum age to sail an Optimist?

23.  When am I too big for an Optimist

24. What are the junior and senior fleets? 

1.    When should a sailor move form Regatta Fleet to main Fleet?

Always a thorny question; here is a transcript of a news item placed on the IODAI website in May 2008:  Link to full article http://www.iodai.com/live/535.html

The question of when to move sailors from regatta fleet to main fleet has often been discussed.  IODAI firmly believe that this decision is one for the parents and sailors to make based on advice from various sources and without any criteria laid down by IODAI. 

However, with the new Junior fleet, regatta fleet parents and sailors may tend to move more rapidly to the Junior Fleet.  While such a move is to be encouraged, some may make it too quickly and then, during a windy regatta, may consider the weather too much for their sailor.  In these situations and for safety reasons main fleet sailors may temporarily move back to the regatta fleet BUT, in such circumstances, they will NOT be allowed to win regatta fleet prizes.

Race Officers decisions to run races should not be compromised by too many sailors not being capable of handling the prevailing conditions.

It should be pointed out to parents that this principle is not designed to allow switching between main fleet and regatta dependent on weather.  Regatta fleet to Main fleet moves should be considered a permanent move and this policy is only intended for exceptional circumstances. 

In the event of Regatta Fleet sailing in, say, an inner harbour, while the Main Fleet are not put to sea, Main Fleet sailors may not downgrade to Regatta to simply get sailing.

End of IODAI statement.

In making the decision to move from Regatta Fleet to Main Fleet, Parents may like to consider the following:

• Advice from those more experienced on the Optimist circuit either at their own clubs or during regional events.  Speak with the Regatta Fleet coach during the event
• Remember that it is a jump up in terms of the duration of the races and the day overall – stamina.  Sailors could be on the water for 6-7 hours.
• Sailors should be capable of such a move up in a moderate breeze not just in light airs
• It can be very demoralizing for a sailor to constantly capsize or sail detached from the back of the fleet on their own.
• They should have been featuring towards the top of the Regatta fleet over at least 2 events as an indication of their readiness
• Consider the above policy statement from IODAI:

2.    What Training is available?

Optimist Training takes place at many levels:

·         Club Level:  If you are members of an active Optimist club then there should be some training organised by your Junior Officer.  However your club may only have a few Oppies and you may have to join other classes to get some training in at local level.  If there is no training at your club then you may like to consider attending IODAI Regional Training.

·         IODAI Regional Training.  Split into two regions, IODAI provides the option of training in the Munster and Leinster regions.  Leinster training has proved quite successful in recent years whereas Munster training has taken on a club focus at Kinsale and RCYC.  Sailors travel to Malahide for Leinster training from as far away as Belfast Lough; Lough Derg; and Wexford.

·         IODAI Winter Training Camp:  IODAI organise a full winter training camp for all sailors in Schull, County Cork each year.  This is certainly IODAI’s main training facility and is attended by up to 100 sailors.  It is an excellent opportunity for sailors (and parents) to meet and integrate themselves in to “The Oppie Circuit”.  More details can be found at http://www.iodai.com/live/638.html

·         Private Training:  Some parents decide to go it alone and combine at club and regional level to employ coaches to train a number of sailors.

·         IODAI also arranges to send around 25 ranked sailors to attend International training and a regatta in Braassemermeer, Holland over the Easter period. The Irish sailors link up with other countries for this training and then go to take part in a major regatta with upwards of 400 competitors from all over Europe. This gives young sailors an excellent opportunity to experience top-flight racing in big fleets for the first time.

·         Parents have to fund participation in the international events. The Association tries to keep costs as low as possible.

·         Sailors are encouraged to participate in Championships outside Ireland and many compete in events in the UK and Europe.

·         The ISA invite a number of selected sailors each year to join the National Optimist Squad.

3.    What is the ISA Squad?

The ISA National Optimist Squad 

The concept of the ISA Optimist Squad had been in the offing for a number of years before it actually got off the ground in 2007.  However when the final plans were placed before IODAI they were accepted.  The general principle was twofold:

1.    That the ISA are given money by the Sports Council each year to support sailing.  The Sports Council support the ISA Performance pathway and as such fund the programmes being rolled out as part of this pathway. This same principle is applied by the Sports council for all other sports that receive funding.  The level of funding given to the ISA is determined by a benchmarking system known as the Carding System.  Basically the ISA’s performance is assessed by the sports council on International success both past, present and future, the organisation structure and strategy and progress. You can read more about “carding” and The ISA Performance Pathway at http://www.sailing.ie/youthsail/inside/default.asp?sectionId=872  and http://www.sailing.ie/youthsail/inside/default.asp?sectionId=868

2.    In previous years, the sailors selected by the trials process became the teams that IODAI and the ISA had to work with for the World and European Championships.  It goes without saying that with only about two months before the actual championships it left little time to get the sailors up to the required skills level to compete on equal terms with their international counterparts.  Instead, the ISA sought to identify certain sailors at the end of the previous season and coach them over the next 8 months in the hope that they would be better equipped to handle the bigger events, get better results and represent their country better.  The hope would be that sailors would acquire better skills and experience enabling them to continue along the ISA Performance Pathway and as a result secure future funding.

Some truths and misconceptions about the Squad: 

• The Squad are selected by the ISA and funded by the ISA.  Their selection policy can be read here http://www.iodai.com/media/i/optinatssquad2.doc
• The selection policy is subjective:  Yes, the ISA make the selection, it is their squad. 
• That all the money the ISA give to IODAI goes to the Squad and the rest of the sailors don’t benefit; The ISA will say, “Yes, that’s correct and generally this has always been the case.  In the past the money has gone to World and European teams. There has been some allocation for coaching days outside the “teams” environment and this will continue. The teams will also receive funding in 2008. We WILL give as much peripheral support to IODAI as we can e.g.  Use of ISA van, attendance at meetings, training of coaches and any other help or assistance we can give”.
• The Squad will always be 15 sailors.  The ISA deem that they may vary the number of the squad as they see fit.  In its first year the squad consisted of 12 sailors. Places not taken up may not necessarily be offered to other sailors.

Going forward:

As a general principle IODAI supports the concept of the Squad and while we would emphasise that it is an ISA Squad as opposed to an IODAI Squad that does not abdicate us from a responsibility to our members. 

The ISA are represented on the IODAI committee to ensure continuity in our relationship and to allow direct two way feedback between both groups.

Generally the Squad was regarded as a success and will continue to attract IODAI support.  2007/8 was the first year and teething problems are to be expected and lessons learnt for future seasons. 

4.    What are the rankings?

Each Optimist sailor in the Main fleet, junior or senior, acquires a ranking based on their results in the ranking events.  Ranking events are the four Regionals and the Nationals.  Final year rankings are based on the best two regional and the Nationals results.  End of season rankings determine whether a sailor will be invited to attend the trials or other events such as Braassemermeer International Easter Regatta in Holland.

5.    What are the trials?

The trials are often described as our most serious event and they determine which sailors will qualify to represent Ireland at the World; European or other International Championships.

6.    Who is invited to the trials?

Up until 2008, the top 70 ranked sailors were invited to the trials.  Now that the fleet is split into two categories, junior and senior, the top 35 junior and top 35 seniors will be invited.  Records indicate that this split is representative of those qualifying for the trials over recent years.  However, do bear in mind that of the 35 Juniors who qualify for the trials, approximately 15-20 will be Seniors by the time they actually compete in the trials.  So the trials are more likely to comprise of 50-55 Seniors and 15-20 Juniors.

7.    Who qualifies for the Worlds Team?

Again some changes are due in 2009, but traditionally, the top five sailors at the trials are invited to represent Ireland at the World Championships.  See below “Who qualifies for teams in 2009?”

8.    Who qualifies for the European Team?

The next 7 sailors at the trials are invited to represent Ireland at the European Championships.  However since the Europeans involve a “girls’ championship”; the makeup of the team must contain 4 of one gender and 3 of the other. See below “Who qualifies for teams in 2009?”

9.    How many Reserves are there for the Teams?

Again traditionally, (but changed for 2009), the next 3 sailors formed the reserves.  They have the opportunity to train with the World and European Teams and should any sailor in those teams drop out they are in a position to take over.  See below “Who qualifies for teams in 2009?”

10.  Who gets a Green Life Jacket?

Traditionally, the 5 sailors in the Worlds Team, the 7 sailors in the European Team and the 3 Reserves get Green Life Jackets.

11.  Who qualifies for teams in 2009?

Recent decisions taken by the IODAI Committee impose new rules for 2009.  In consultation with the ISA it has been decided NOT to send a team to the World Championships in Brazil in 2009.  There were numerous reasons for this but mainly based on cost; distance, logistics; and the fact that many sailors return from such tough championships with unfulfilled ambitions which can be considered to have a detrimental effect on their future sailing career.

So, for 2009.  The top seventeen sailors will be selected from the trials to represent Ireland.  All will receive green life jackets and all will attend an international regatta.  The following criteria will apply:

·         The top 7 sailors (subject to the gender rule) will represent Ireland at the European Championships.

·         The remaining 10 sailors will attend another top International Regatta (the actual event has yet to be decided but it will be a high profile International event).

·         IODAI is aware that some sailors may still wish to attend the World Championships.  In the event of any of the top 5 sailors wishing to travel to the Worlds, IODAI will (as required by the competition rules) enter them as Ireland representatives. 

·         In the event of any (or indeed all five) of the top sailors attending the Worlds, The European Team will be adjusted accordingly (subject to the gender rule) and the number attending the International regatta will similarly adjusted.  It must be stressed that this will only apply to the top five.  If any of them decide not to go, the place or places will not be offered down to sailors outside the top five.  

·         Therefore the two extreme scenarios are:

o   That we have 7 sailors at the Europeans and 10 sailors at an International regatta, or,

o   that we have 5 sailors at the Worlds; 7 at the Europeans and 5 at an International regatta. 

12.  What IS an Under 12 Sailor?

This is often difficult to understand but basically if a sailor is under 12 on the 1^st January he is an Under 12 throughout that year.  All sailors born in 1997 or later are Under 12’s in 2009.

13.  How do sailors qualify for the Under 12 Squad?

Although this will be kept under review each year, those Under 12 sailors who compete in the trials will be invited to form the Under 12 Squad.

14.  What does the Under 12 Squad do?

The Under 12 Squad is invited by IODAI to enter the UK National Championships.  They will receive training before the championships and will have coaching and logistical support during their attendance.

15.  What Training is there for Squads and Teams?

Sailors elected for Squads and Teams will be provided with additional training and support from the ISA; IODAI and perhaps sponsors.

16.  What is Braassemermeer?

Braassemermeer is the International Easter Regatta held in Holland each year.  The organisers usually extend an invitation for up to 30 Irish sailors to attend.  As many as 300 boats attend from all over Europe.  It is a very tough regatta and more may be learned by visiting http://www.iodai.com/live/629.html on this website.  The ISA use it as a benchmarking event to assess the progress of junior sailing in Ireland and ultimately apply for funding from the Irish Sports Council.  The regatta takes place just before the trials and is therefore a timely event for Irish sailors to get in a sustained training session and race experience. 

17.  How do sailors qualify for Braassemermeer?

For 2009 the top 20 Senior sailors; the top 10 Juniors; and possibly some special applicants will be invited to attend.  Again see http://www.iodai.com/live/629.html

18.  What training is there outside Ireland for sailors not in a Squad or Team?

There are a number of training camps throughout Europe that sailors can attend.  Many precede major regattas.  Some are published on this website from time to time.  Others can be found by surfing the web.  Many parents combine a European Regatta with a family holiday.

19.  How do I get a sail number for a new Optimist?