2024 Annual General Meeting Summary

Mar del Plata, Argentina – 12 de diciembre de 2024

This morning, the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) successfully held its 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM), marking another milestone in its dedication to the global Optimist sailing community.

The meeting opened with a warm welcome from the IODA President, setting the stage for a productive session. Key points discussed included reports from the President and Vice Presidents representing Africa, Asia and Oceania, the Americas, and Europe.

Updates were also provided by the chairs of the Technical Committee and Regatta Committee, while the 2023 audited accounts were unanimously approved, reflecting IODA’s commitment to transparency and sound financial management.

Proposals from the Executive Committee, Technical Committee, and members were reviewed and discussed.

Event Venues Confirmed for 2025:

• European Championship: Çeşme, Izmir, Türkiye (28 May – 4 June)
• World Championship: Portorož, Slovenia (26 June – 6 July)
• African Championship: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2 – 9 August)
• European Team Racing Championship: Istanbul, Türkiye (18 – 23 August)
• South American Championship: Salinas, Ecuador (6 – 13 September)
• North American Championship: Kingston, Canada (21 – 28 September)
• Asian and Oceanian Championships: Mussanah, Oman (25 October – 1 November)

Venues Selected for 2026 Championships:

• World Championship: Tangier, Morocco (18 – 28 June)
• African Championship: Benghazi, Libya (to be confirmed)
• European Championship: Gdynia, Poland (24 – 31 July)
• European Team Racing Championship: Campione del Garda, Italy (13 – 18 October)
• South American Championship: Montevideo, Uruguay (25 October – 1 November)
• Asian and Oceanian Championships: Colombo, Sri Lanka (29 December 2026 – 5 January 2027)

Elections:

• Vice Presidents Reelected: Sigrid Beckmann (MEX) and Ajay Naray (IND) retained their positions as Vice President of the Americas and Vice President of Africa, Asia, and Oceania, respectively.
• Technical Committee Members Elected: Jurgen Cluytmans (BEL) and Curly Morris (IRL)
• Regatta Committee Members Elected: Elena Papazoglou (CYP) and Francisco Jauregui (MEX)

The 2024 AGM underlined IODA's commitment to promoting excellence in Optimist sailing around the world, with robust discussions and decisions that will shape the future of the class. The association thanks all attendees for their active participation and valuable contributions.