News Opti Girls Have More Fun!

Opti Girls Have More Fun!

IODA is so very proud of the girls that participate in the Optimist Class and we salute their participation and successes over the years.  

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and girls - while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender equality.

The International Women’s Day 2020 campaign theme is #EachforEqual. Collectively, each one of us can help create a gender equal world.

Girls participation in our continental events has increased from around 25% to about 37% since 2005.  Although we are not at 50/50, we are making progress.  It continues to be a goal for IODA that equal numbers of girls and boys are sailing the Optimist Dinghy as we move toward a gender equal world in the future.   

Optimist sailing offers girls the same benefits and life skills as it does boys such as resilience. independence, decision making, self-reliance and discipline.  Optimist sailing also teaches the value of fair play, respect, teamwork, integrity, inclusiveness and caring for the environment.

It also offers the opportunity to make new friends and sharing experiences while creating memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

The Optimist World Championship which is an open competition has been won six times by girls:

  • 1987 Sabrina Landi (ITA)
  • 1996 Lisa Westerhof (NED)
  • 2005 Tina Lutz (GER)
  • 2010 Noppakao Poonpat (THA)
  • 2011 Kimberley Lim (SGP)
  • 2012 Elise Yokoyama (SGP)

In 2019, Maria Perello of Spain was the top girl at the World Championship for the 3rd consecutive year.  An achievement that may not happen again for many years to come.

So what keeps girls sailing Optimists?  It's becuase there is no question that Opti Girls have more fun!