News Mohamed Dadach (MAR) crowned 2023 African Champion - Gino Pichetti (ARG) tops the Leaderboard

Mohamed Dadach (MAR) crowned 2023 African Champion - Gino Pichetti (ARG) tops the Leaderboard

The 2023 Optimist African Championship has concluded after 5 days of racing in M’diq, Morocco.  A total of 89 sailors from 9 counties in Africa (ANG, EGY, LBA, MRI, MAR, MOZ, SEY, TAN, and TUN) and 8 international countries (AUS, BRA, CAN, FRA, HKG, LAT, ESP, and UAE) had an amazing week of racing, fun and friendship!

Four days of fleet racing with 7 races held in the qualifying series and 1 in the final series topped off a great week.   For many it was a week of learning and making friends with sailors from different cultures and backgrounds. Morocoo hosted a fantastic event that was enjoyed by everyone.

Thr closing ceremony that marked the end of an unforgettable event was a joyous celebration of the spirit of sportsmanship, unity, and friendship amound the sailors and participating nations. 

Prizes for the Optimist African Champions are awarded to:

  • The best 3 place sailors without gender distinction, regardless of their continent of residence,
  • The best place girls regardless of their continent of residence
  • The 3 best placed sailors, without gender distinction, whose IODA Member is from Africa, the first of whom will become the 2023 Africa Champion

The top 3 sailors overall on the leaderboard were Gino Pichetti (ARG) with a total of 8 points – his lowest drop race was a 2nd  , followed by teammate Juan Sebastian Properzi (ARG) in 2nd overall, with Alejandro Valero Ruiz (ESP) in 3rd overall. 

Top girl at the event and 4th overall was Julie Tricaud-Revil (FRA).  The 2nd and 3rd girls were Margaux Nguyen-Minh (HKG) in 9th overall, and Clara Zunquin (FRA) in 11th overall.

The top three sailors whose members are from Africa were awarded to host nation sailor,  Mohamed Dadach (MAR) winning the perpetual trophy and the 2023 Optimist African Championship title, followed by Augusto Luis Amaro (ANG) in 2nd place and Mohamed Elomrani (MAR) in 3rd.

The top three girls whose members are from Africa were Karma Walid ( EGY) followed by Wilka De Sousa (MOZ) and Victoria Culpossa Rodriques Camota (ANG).

The 2023 Optimist African Team Racing Championship was held midweek.  It is always a highlight for many sailors.  It is action packed and a real test of the knowledge of the racing rules and boat handling,  

13 teams took part in the team racing event representing ARG, MAR. MOZ, CAN, AUS, ESP, BRA, ANG, and FRA.  Some countries entered more than one team.

17 races were held to determine the overall winner and African Team Racing Champion.  The final was between ARG and ANG - an intense and exciting final that saw ARG win two of the three races. ARG was the overall winner, but it was ANG that took the 2023 African Team Racing Championship Title.   The entire Optimist sailing community in Africa was celebrating the win.  BRA beat AUS in the final to take 3rd place in the standings.

Following ANG in the African Team Racing Championship were MOZ and MAR. 

Many thanks to the dedicated team of volunteers led by Chairman, Mohamed Redda El Ferdaoussi for organizing such a fantastic event and to the Royal M’Diq Yacht Club for hosting the championship at your beautiful facilities.

With the highest number of participation in Optimist Africain championship, who came from all over the world, this championship was truly a testament to the determination and talent of the next generation of African sailors.

For download the full results go here.

To view the hundreds of incredible images both on and off the water by Matias Capizzano, go here.