2009 Trials Invitaions have gone out. New format and new team selection rules.

For 2009, IODAI have decided NOT to support a team going to the World Championhships in Brazil.  There are various reasons for this, not least of which is the expense involved and dubious benefit to young sailors attending such a tough event so early in their sailing career.

Instead, we will be sending our top sailors to the European Championships (7 sailors) and a second International Development Team (10 sailors) to the French Open Championships.  All these sailors will receive Green Life Jackets.  Our top five sailors may of course still attend the Worlds if they wish, and IODAI will enter a team or sailors as required by the rules, but they will not have IODAI support at the event. 

An IODAI Trials Review Team also carried out a major review of the Trials process in 2008 and that Team made a number of recommendations regarding the format of the event.  The recommendations of the Review Team can be viewed here

The format for the selection of teams is best understood by the following extract for the Trials Notice of Race.  (The full NOR may be viewed here).

1.           Team Selection Process

The highest placed sailors from the Trials results will be selected to represent Ireland at the European Optimist Championships in Slovenia (the European Team) and the French Open National Championships in Brittany (the International Development Team) in the following manner:

1.1.            Team Selection will be based on the results acquired at the Trial Process and full compliance with such terms as IODAI may require.

1.1.1.     However in the event of a sailor, who is placed in a “team qualifying position” before the final weekend of the Trials, being unable to compete in the final weekend, an IODAI appointed Committee may at their discretion award him/her (a) average points in the remaining races of the Trials or (b) a place on a team. Such an IODAI appointed Committee will be chaired by a suitable independent person and consist of 2 suitable IODAI Committee persons whose sailor will not be effected by any decision reached.

1.1.2.     It should be emphasized that this action will only be taken in regard to a sailor who, in the opinion of  the committee referred to in 9.1.1, would have been one of the top performing sailors in the Trials as clearly demonstrated by their performance in the Trial races in which they sailed.

1.1.3.     It must be emphasised that the circumstances which prevent a sailor from competing will have to be compelling and absolute, and if appropriate, supported by such medical evidence as IODAI may require. 

1.1.4.     Where a team place is awarded under these circumstances, the overall number of sailors that constitute the teams shall increase to allow an additional member.

1.1.5.     No other exceptions to the qualification process will be considered.

1.2.            European Team – highest placed seven sailors (minimum of 3 boys and 3 girls)

1.3.            International Development Team - the next 10 highest placed sailors (minimum 2 girls)

1.4.            IODAI is aware that some sailors may still wish to attend the World Championships in Brazil. The highest placed five sailors may opt out of the European Team and IODAI will (as required by the competition rules) enter them as Ireland representatives.

1.5.            In the event of any or all of the five highest placed sailors opting to attend the Worlds, the next highest placed sailors will be selected for the European Team to fill the available places (again subject to its gender rule) and the following highest placed sailors will be selected for the International Development Team (subject to its gender rule).

1.6.            Up until the 16th May European Team members may opt to join the International Development team in which case their European Team place will be offered (as a swap) to the highest placed sailor on the International Development Team (subject to the gender rule). This offer will be made by phone and an immediate answer will be required.  Up until the 16th May if a European team sailor chooses not to accept any team place, then they will be removed from the team listings and their European Team position will be offered to the first sailor on the International Development team subject to the gender rule. Should such offers not be taken up they will continue down the list of International Development team members. If as a result of the above or an International Development team sailor not wishing to accept their place that place will be offered to the next highest placed sailor at the trials (subject to its gender rule) until all available team places have been filled.  All such team place offers will be handled by IODAI and sailors/parents wishing to opt out or not take up their team place will inform IODAI Honorary Secretary immediately.

1.7.            All sailors who compete at the Worlds, European and International Development Teams will be presented with IODAI Green Team Lifejackets.