Welcome to the Weir Wood Optimist Club.  

 

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The Optimist dinghy  

The International Optimist dinghy (“Oppy”) is specifically designed to be sailed by children up to the age of 15. It is sailed around the world with a highly organised class organisation giving children the opportunity to participate in events at club, regional, national and international level.  

Weir Wood has an active fleet with 20 – 30 boats sailing every Saturday afternoon during the season. Optimists also participate in normal club sailing and racing.

 Optimists at Weir Wood

 The aim of Oppy Club is for children to have fun and learn in a safe environment. Oppy Club is run by parents for their children. Parents or appropriate adult carers remain responsible for their children during all our sessions and are, therefore, required to remain on site while their children are sailing. As a voluntary organisation we need parents to assist rigging and launching boats as well as manning support boats and coaching on the water –those to new sailing are encouraged and trained to get involved!  

We meet Saturday afternoons rigged in time to go afloat for 14.00. Depending upon conditions we normally aim to be ashore about 16.00.  

“Oppy Club” splits into 3 fleets based on the ability and experience of the Oppy sailors:-  

• Beginners – a rolling programme of 4 week beginners courses is run by the club to introduce children to sailing. Boats are provided by the club for these courses.
• Intermediate – (IOCA grades 1 & 2) provides progression from the beginners course where children learn to handle their boats in a variety of conditions.
• Advanced / Racing – (IOCA grades 3 & 4) mainly focussed on racing. The session includes coaching and a points race each week counting to series trophies

 Boats

 Aside from the beginners course children will need their own boats. We do however now have 2 boats available for occasional hire to help get children started.

Annual Programme  

• Weir Wood Optimists go to Cobnor Activities Centre on Chichester Harbour twice a year for away weekends.
• A 5 day camp is run at the end of July camping in a field adjacent to the club.
• An open meeting is held in September where visitors from clubs around the country join us in a day of racing.

For further information on joining Weir Wood Optimists go to the contacts page - see you on the water!