ROPE & Optimists at Ocean Race Start

Optimists were out Team Racing in the village basin on the day before the start of the Ocean Race that took place on Sunday, January 15^th.

Spectators were watching the racing as it unfolded amongst the IMOCA 60s and VO 65’s as the crews made final preparations for the start the next day.

After racing, Sigrid Beckmann. VP America gave a ROPE Presentation as part of the 11^th Hour Sustainability program to the group of Opti Sailors that were out team racing in the basin.

The ROPE program which stands for Recycled Optimist Parts and Equipment is a youth peer-to-peer donation program that IODA developed in 2021 that encourages sailors to donate used equipment to programs in need at our IODA Championships and to leave a legacy to the local sailing community.

The ROPE Program was a finalist in the 2021 World Sailing 11th Hour Sustainability Awards.

Education to young sailors about this program is a key driver of success. We hope to engage more youth at other legs of the Ocean Race about the ROPE program and the circular economy. 

For the past 50 years, both the Optimist Class and the Ocean Race have changed the world of sailing. The Optimist is where kids learn resilience and the love of sailing and the Ocean Race is where they experience the challenges and thrills of the open ocean.