Message from your IODA Team December 2025

Dear Optimist Family,

As the year comes to a close, all of us across IODA — the Executive Committee, Regatta Committee, Technical Committee, our Secretariat, race officials, and the many volunteers who give their time and passion — want to extend our deepest thanks to you.

To our Member Nations, thank you for your leadership, energy, and commitment to growing our class around the world.

To our sailors, you continue to inspire us with your joy, resilience, and the spirit of fair play that defines the Optimist.

To our coaches, whose dedication builds confidence and skill in every sailor — we see you, and we appreciate you.

To all families and friends, thank you for every early morning, every journey, every moment of support that makes the magic of youth sailing possible.

And to our volunteers everywhere, your generosity is the heartbeat of our class. Nothing we do would be possible without you.

Together, we have shared a remarkable year of Optimist sailing — unforgettable regattas, new friendships across continents, and countless moments of learning and growth. The strength of our global community is what makes the Optimist more than a boat: it is a pathway, a home, and a family.

From all of us at IODA, we wish you happy holidays, fair winds, and an incredible year ahead. May 2026 bring even more opportunities for young sailors to dream big, challenge themselves, and discover the joy of our sport.

Thank you for being part of this amazing journey.

With gratitude,

The entire IODA Team