25 Dec The 2nd Annual XLCapital Bermuda International Optimist Regatta has come to a close. East coasters Kate Giffin, Dana Archibald and Ted Murphy participated. For the details and results check the BODA website at www.boda.bm

16 Dec CYA named the 2004 Optimist Canadian Championship regatta the CYA City of Kingston Regatta of the Year. In their own words: "The regatta, hosted by Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, was a truly great event. In total 91 youths participated, 76 in the Champion Fleet, and 15 in the Green Fleet. All the details were carefully thought out to ensure that all sailors, parents and coaches enjoyed themselves. Each day there was a briefing and debriefing for sailors and coaches, and every evening there was a mini awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the day. This ensured that everyone was kept up to date with new information, and helped to make all the competitors (not just 1st, 2nd, 3rd) feel included. The organizers provided fun activities for the sailors after racing, including a tetherball pole, volleyball nets, rock climbing wall, karaoke, and access to the RHYC swimming pool. The race committee was also extremely organized and efficient. All races started in a timely fashion and start sequences, safety concerns and mark locations were communicated as necessary to volunteers and coaches quickly and effectively. The amount of advance preparation and communication was simply impressive. The careful thought and planning ensured that participants and spectators alike thoroughly enjoyed the regatta." CODA is very proud of this Award and has sent a congratulatory letter to the RHYC on behalf of its membership.

15 Dec Heads up Coaches: the Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association will be fielding teams to attend the following international regattas in 2005: North American Championship: Trinidad & Tobago June 24 - July 3, 2005 European Championship: Gdynia, Poland July 10 - July 17, 2005 World Championship: St. Moritz, Switzerland July 25 - August 5, 2005 We will be looking for COACHES for these events. Remuneration will depend on a number of factors including available funding and qualifications. Interested coaches should e-mail their resumes with a covering letter to the CODA Secretary at ggiffin@tallships.ca . Please outline which event(s) you are interested in and any funding support you may be eligible for.

21 Nov From the IODA webpage: ISAF Conference 2004 The rejection by the ISAF Council of a proposal to ban competitors under 12 years of age from national and international championships marks, hopefully, the end of a four year struggle to defend the decisions of the Class. The decision, by 31 votes to 5 with 2 abstentions, followed the report of an ISAF Working Party on the Impact of High Level Sport on Youth Sailors. This concluded that: "High Level Sport places demands on Youth Sailors and their supporters, but that these demands are not disproportionate and are, indeed, less than in many other sports. In particular drop-out levels from those participating in high level competition are relatively low and compares favourably with many other sports." (For the findings of the report -on PDF- see the IODA website.

15 Nov. As determined by the AGM 2004, the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron will be hosting the 2005 Canadian Optimist Championship. The dates have been set, and the event will take place Aug 19-22, 2005. The NOR is available, click here, and bookmark the website as www.opticanadians2005.com. Details will come. Please contact CODA President and Chairman of the regatta Michael Archibald as soon as possible if you like to charter an Optimist.

7 Nov. Approaching fast: November 24-27 2004 USODA Midwinter Championship, Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, Louisiana. Details http://www.southernyachtclub.org

12 Oct. The 2005 USODA Atlantic Coast Championship regatta is complete. A small number of Canadian participants attended the event: Ted Murphy, NS, Dana Archibald (NS) and Jean Felix Levesque (PQ). The event was hosted by the Fishing Bay YC. It is one of the major Optimist regattas in the US where top US finishers are eligible to participate in their team trials (which selects sailors to attend the Worlds, Europeans and North American Championships). Very light wind on Saturday from a high a pressure weather system allowed only one race. On Sunday however winds increased from the north east, and four races were sailed in 10-13 kt breeze. Ted Murphy sailed a good consistent regatta in shifty conditions and placed 8th overall. Dana finished 34th and and Jean - Felix 103 rd, in the field of 137 boats. Dana returned the trophy won by her brother in 03. Hopefully we get another Canadian name on it next year! Mike Archibald, CODA President To see the final results click this link http://www.fbyc.net/.

2 Oct. International High Performance Optimist Clinic in the Med this spring.Details.

On the USODA Calendar: see here for more; October 9-10 2004 USODA Atlantic Coast Championship, Fishing Bay YC, Deltaville, VA., (G,O), more; February 12-13 2005 Valentine's Day Regatta, St. Petersburg YC, St. Petersburg, FL.,(G,O), more

29 Sept. Click to read the report by Scott McAuley on the foils issue that came up when measuring Optimists at the national championship this summer. CODA is currently preparing a recommendation with respect to the new ruling and measuring of foils and sails by March 2005.. (See also IODA site).

Sep. Ted Murphy, of RNSYS, was crowned Nova Scotia Provincial Optimist Champion at Chester Yacht Club, NS. on September 19. Report see Regional Atlantic section. In Quebec, it was Olivier Corbeil, who won the tiebreaker for first. See Quebec section for the scoop.

16 Sept In ALBERTA the Provincial Regatta was held on Labour Day Weekend (Sept 4-6) and for the first time, thanks to Opti-guy Peter MacDougal insiting on it, an Optimist Dinghy fleet competed in the event. Wabamun Sailing Club, on Wabamun Lake, hosted the event. Liam Quinlan is the Champ. We are pleased to have received the following report

13 Sept. The Cornish Hen (RHamilton YC) was sailed under fine, sunny albeit not so windy conditions. Tyler Meyrick (RHYC) beat 13 other competitors to win the event. He and other winners received their tiny frozen birds. Series results summary here.

11 Sept. The Chester Yacht Club invites all Optimist dinghy sailors to the 2004 Nova Scotia Optimist Championship to be held in Chester harbour and its approaches September 18,19. Follow this link to the Notice of Race: http://www.cyc.ns.ca/juniors/ns optimist championship.htm

5 Sept The 2004 BC Optimist Champs will be held on Sept 25 and 26 in Port Moody, hosted by Rocky Point Sailing. Information has been posted regarding the Quebec Provincial Championship / Championnat d'Optimist du Québec 2004 which will held 11-12 Sept at "Club de Voile des Laurentides". The link to the sailing club is: http://www.cvl.qc.ca (>Regates> Competition Juniors). The Nova Scotia Optimist Championship is in Chester, NS, September 18, 19.

2 Sept At the national qualifying regatta (see below) the following sailors were selected for the Worlds' Team 2005 (Switzerland): Jean Luc Robitaille QC, Evert McLaughlin ON, Ted Murphy NS, Sami Kestenbaum ON, Carlisle Norwood NS, and for the Europeans' Team 2005 (Poland) qualified: Dana Archibald NS, Laura Cartmel QC, Lucas McLaughlin ON, Sebastian Fritz BC.

26 Aug At the Canadian Optimist Championship, hosted by Royal Hamilton Yacht Club Aug 21-24, Jean Luc Robitaille (14) from QC was crowned the new national champion 2004. Defending champ Evert McLaughlin is 2nd, and Lauren Turner from Chitaqua S.C, USA, places 3rd. Top Canadian female is Rachel Bussin who came in 10th overall. Blue Fleet winner is Lucas McLaughlin (16th) and fiirst in White is Sarah Douglas (18th). In the Green fleet, the champ is Conner Stein, RCYC. Sportsmanship awards went to Birte Gunnarsson (US) and Linor Berezin, ON. Congrats to all! For results and photos, check the official event site.

Congratulations to the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club for putting on a fine and fun event, both on and off the water! Many thanks to the numerous volunteers and sponsors. PS2000 provided the charterboats so that our sailing friends from BC and Newfoundland could attend. The next Championship will be hosted by the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, around the same time in August 2005.

CORK concluded successfully and over 90 boats were registered in the main fleet, and 28 in the Green fleet. The overal winner, and recipient of the Valerie Rushton Award (Top Canadian) is Jean Luc Robitaille from Quebec. Blue fleet winner is Simon Robitaille, QC, and first in White is Sarah Douglas from Barbados. Conner Vos (USA) wins the Green Fleet, Justin Barnes ON is first Canadian in 2nd o.a.. For complete results see cork.

The European Optimist Championships have been concluded and team members rushed back to attend the CORK/ Canadians. At the boys event 12 races were completed with 2 discards. Top Canadian in Europe finished Ted Murphy with a very respectable 65 overall. Details see Europeans'.

12 Aug The USODA New Englands is happening as well, and a good number of Canadians are attending the 300 boat fleet, with Jean Luc Robitaille QC and Evert McLaughlin ON currently sitting in 5th and 6th place respectively, so that is looking good. New Englands

11 Aug The IODA European Championship is well underway in Sweden and Ted Murphy from Halifax is drawing attention to Canada. Keep up the good work Ted! The team is represented by 5 male and 3 female sailors. Visit the Teams page on our Menu for team info and a link to the action.

Be sure to attend and SIGN UP up for CYA/CODA Clinic from Kingston Yacht Club all day Sat Aug 14 and Sun Aug 15th. The fee is just $40 per sailor and also includes a pizza dinner (courtesy of PS2000) and two lunches. Lee SIMMS is the coach and you can bet you'll be well prepared for CORK.

Information has been posted regarding the Quebec Provincial Championship / Championnat d'Optimist du Québec 2004 which will held 11-12 Sept at "Club de Voile des Laurentides". The link to the sailing club is: http://www.cvl.qc.ca (>Regates> Competition Juniors)

McLaughlin 5th at US OPTIMIST NATIONALS: Toronto sailor Evert McLaughlin finishes 5th overall at the event, hosted by the Bellport Bay Yacht Club, New York, July 27- 30. Evert sailed consistently well, finishing 10 out of the 14 races in the top 5, including 3 x 1st place.The 2004 US Nationals held in Patchogue Village, New York was the largest single fleet regatta ever in North America with 430 boats participating (360 main and 60 green). more

Fruitbowl: With 448 athletes and coaches, and 294 boats competing, the FruitBowl 2004 training regatta hosted by the Hudson Yacht Club, QC, on the last weekend of July, was the largest ever. The Optimist contingent numbered over 70 boats! Rain and lack of wind caused the racing to be abandoned eventually on the first racing day, but the following day allowed a series of races to be completed, and the results and good photos are to be found here. Sail East: Atlantic Canada's big annual 'Sail East' regatta , hosted by RNSYS was held July 23-25 with racing clinics coached by Lee Simms run the three days previous. The three-days of racing gave the sailors variable conditions with everything from 2-3 knots of wind to gusts of up to 25 knots. Torrential rain at the end of the second day added to the weather mix. The fleet was again a record -breaking number for Atlantic Canada with a total of 44 boats overall in the Opti fleet - 19 in the Green fleet and 25 in the open fleet. In the open fleet, 1st place went to Ted Murphy of RNSYS, 2nd place to Kate Giffin of Chester Yacht Club and 3rd place to Eleanor Samson of RNYC. In the green fleet, 1st place went to Jake Malone of Bedford Yacht Club, 2nd place to Joanie Capandeguy of St. Pierre & Miquelon and 3rd to Nicolas Girandin of St. Pierre & Micquelon. Results can be accessed at www.rnsys.com

22-25 July 16 & Under Western Championship and YOTS (Big Bird Classic) more Pelican Lake, MB Contact: Brigitte Smutny / CYA

July 21-25 Sail EAST 15&U EAST Title for Optimist more RNSYS, Nova Scotia Contact: Barbara Pike / CYA

July 29 - Aug 1 Hudson Fruit bowl HYC

22 July A record turnout helped make the St Margaret's Bay Regatta (Atlantic) huge success. Top three finishers were Michael Jodlowski, Ted Murphy and Jacob Chaplin. Winner in Green was Elliott Kerrin. For all results visit the host St Margaret Sailing Club

22 July In Ontario, another couple of regattas were completed over the weekend of July 19,20 Ontario, both at the Port Credit Yacht Club. The STEERERS Junior Club Regatta was held on Thursday and Friday, and the ONTARIO Optimist Championship Regatta held in conjunction with the Four Sisters Regatta on the weekend. For all the scoop: see the Ontario Section, but we will reveal that AJ Healey won the Steerers and Rachel Bussin won the Ontario Champion title and the regatta. AJ Healey was the male Ontario winner and he came 2nd over all. For more see the regional Ontario page.

21 July The CYA OPTIMIST CAMP camp will take place based out of Kingston Yacht Club (1 Maitland St), on August 14-15, with sessions running both days from 9am-4pm.There will be a pizza dinner/guest talk following sailing on Saturday. Head coach is Lee Simms- who has extensive experience working with Optimist sailors from the novice to elite levels. All Optimist sailors are invited to attend. Cost is 40$ which includes 2 lunches, 1 pizza dinner and lots of good sailing/training opportunities. You can pay by visa/cash/cheque/mastercard on the first day. Application form is found on CYA website. Sailors and coaches can also register on the Saturday morning at 9am- however, if you're planning on coming- I would appreciate it if you could let me know in advance! Contact Erika at CYA orMickey at CODA with any questions. What to bring? Sailing equipment/gear, water bottle, sunscreen/hat, and a big smile :>.

18 July The OPTIMIST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004 in Salinas, ECUDAOR, is underway! The team has put in a couple of races as of today with fine results for Jean Luc and Evert; after measurement, tuning and practicing etc. Prior to that the Team went for an exciting journey up into the Andean mountains. For their experiences and daily updates see the Teams> Worlds 2004 page. For the latest results visit the official website www.salinasyachtclub.org > worlds.

13 July A number of regattas were completed over the weekend: the ARK Regatta hosted by the Bedford Basin Yacht Club, NS (results and photos) won by Polish sailor Michal Jodlowski, and the Fogh Boorman regatta won by American Lauren Turner. (R HamiltonYC) The resp green fleet winners were Casper MacAulay, and Jeffrey Markariah (USA). The CYA SAIL WEST Regatta was held out of the Last Mountain Lake Sailing Center and hosted by Regina Sailing Club (SK). See also regional Atlantic section.

4 July The NOR for the Canadian Optimist Championship (R.H.Y.C., Hamilton, ON, Aug 222-25) has been revised to include more information, now available. Visit the Championship's own website by clicking on 'Canadians' on the Menu bar to your left.

NOTE: For the CODA Canadian Championship, CORK, and all the Provincial Championships please bring your Optimist Measurement Certificate (the white card) and your 2004 CODA Membership to show at Registration. Random measurement (and certainly safety inspections) may be held at these events. Also, be prepared to contribute a $5 levy payable to CODA. This fee may or may not be included in the Registration Fee, please check the NOR. Contact the CODA Secretary if you have any questions!

If you need to renew/sign up for 2004 CODA membership, register your boat in your name, or need a sailnumber for your new boat, contact the Secretary.