Welcome to the Weir Wood Optimist Club.  

 

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Oppy Club (7 - 15 years)

Oppy Club is for children aged 7 -15 and runs on Saturday afternoons from 14:00 (rigged and ready to sail) - approx 16:00. It is run by qualified coaches and other parents and offers children the opportunity to start sailing, develop their skills to a high level of racing competence, if they wish, in a friendly, safe and supportive environment. The boats used are the highly popular single handed Optimist dinghy.  

Weir Wood has an active fleet with 20 – 30 boats sailing every Saturday afternoon during the season which runs from March to November with winter training for the more keen. The children in the group have a lot of fun and make good friends on and off the water.

Being part of Oppy Club

To sail as part of Oppy Club children do need to have basic sailing knowledge which we can offer through our Start Sailing and IOCA Level 1 courses. Fees and availability for both of these courses are shown by clicking on the links. Boats and safety equipment are supplied for both of these course and are run by qualified instructors. These courses are available to members and non-members. For further details of these course you can contact Tim Taylor at beginners@wwsc.org.uk

Once you have completed at least the Start Sailing Course then you can join the intermediate group (IOCA Grades 1 and 2) in Oppy Club. At present we have 2 Hire Boats available on a first come first served basis. Click on the link to find out more about hiring. These boats are aimed at keeping children going prior to deciding to buy their own boat. Suitable starter boats range from £300 - £600. From there children can, if they wish,  join the racing group (IOCA Grades 3 and 4) and develop their racing skills with Level 2 race coaches, be part of the regular Saturday pm races and go to the wide range of Open Meetings and Optimist Championships which many of our sailors compete in during the year.

Please note that if children have previous experience or relevant qualifications they can join Oppy Club as part of their family or cadet membership, in the intermediate or racing group without the need to go on the start sailing or level 1 course.

Oppy Club is run as part of the membership of the main club so children from a family membership can join at no extra charge apart from the additional fee for their boat. Cadet only membership is also available. Please see the Membership pages for details of prices.

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! Parents are also required to stay on-site during the sessions. 

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.
• Open meetings are held in April and September where visitors from clubs around the country join us in a day of racing.
• Many of our sailors attend various competitions around the country.

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