Omari Scott, current U.S. Optimist National Team Coach and previous coach of the 2013 CDC winning BVI Team
Caribbean teams will compete for the title of Caribbean Dinghy Champion in Club Nautico de San Juan (CNSJ), Puerto Rico on October 16-18, 2015.
The Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) has amended their eligibility protocol to now allow one team per island, rather than per country, making more islands and teams eligible to compete. There are a maximum of seven (7) teams, so all islands are encouraged to enter early. Classes at this year’s CDC include Optimist 420 Laser, Laser Radial and IC-24. All classes are open, meaning both male and female, the Optimist class is limited to age 15 and under, and the 420 (2 crew) and IC24 (4 crew) will sail without spinnakers.
About the unique format of the CDC, Omari Scott, currently U.S. Optimist National Team Coach and previously coach of the 2013 CDC winning BVI team says: “To have each country compete in a variety of boats shows that your country has depth. To be competitive in the CDC, you can’t just have the best Opti sailor. You have to have Laser, IC-24. You have to have a good trimmer, good topper. You have to have really good sailors across the board.
You have a group of people who work together whether coming from different classes to make their country the best. It’s a unique way. I have never heard of it in any other place where each country is represented in a field of five different classes. As a nation, as a unified community, it speaks to what country is the best.”
Caribbean island teams can register online at https://caribbean-sailing.com/sailing-development/2015-caribbean-dinghy-championships/ where NOR and other supporting documents are available. The registration deadline is August 17th.
