Many young sailracers now come from competitors'generations who "knows the system", but not everybody ! We love sailing, have an extensive cruising experience but had zero knowledge about dinghy sailing competition world 8 years ago ...

Our son followed a logical way from OPTIMIST to 420... got noticeable results in both series and is now on a "stand by position" regarding competition. We learned a lot in these years of regattas and I ll conclude with some advices I could have been very happy to read before 2009, when Jim started to sail OPTIMIST in Hong Kong.

In a few words:

=> Just make your child love sailing as soon as you can, on the water only with the best weather conditions, but also in the club for playing on shore with other mates.

=> No reason to start serious competition  before 9yo, but after, it's going to be much more difficult as it's hard to get motivation without result.

=> Choice the right coach who ll teach him  to train regulary by any weather, to respect the rules,.

=> Beside the national races and without escaping one of them, use n abuse of the fantastic opportunities of IODA (OPTIMIST SERIE) including the best international clinics. Boch'a s famous clinics are the best christmas gift a young sailor can receive.

=> Choice the right crew when he ll start 420 serie and keep in mind that sharing the same values with the other family is better than any other consideration, even physical or financial...Availability come second.

=> Make every year a meeting with this family to be sure both kids can participate to all events.

=> Don't accept than other people than your child or you decide to cancel a participation to an international competition he manage to be selected as.

"it's not easy to be world champion on a first and unic participation"

"Missed opportunities will never come back as these years run fast"

" international competition is what for the  kids and and coaches  train for during all the year"

" International competition including OPTIMIST are not only improving his level but opening his international sensibility, his english speaking and building your best family memory"

=> When he will  get some success, you should invest some time in class or local sailing federation (FFV in France), and don't believe the doors are widely open for you just because you have time to give.

For this last point, I wish you good luck as this is probably the biggest challenge especially if you come from the private sector: In France, we discovered another world wich is using public money , a political world wich seems to live from sailing, not for sailing...

I don't want to develop this uninspiring part but I ll give an example to show how this world seems far away from sports values where best national teams should compete against best teams of other nations:

In 2015, with a unsane psychological pression through coach on young sailors during selective races, they just managed to ruined the 420 sailing season of Jim n Victor, at this time the best french U18 team; their 420 did'nt participate to the best events they qualified:

- The Japanese WORLD where FFV sent further ranking young sailors.

- The malaysian ISAF where France did'nt present any 420 boy's crew !

All of that to try to get no value medals to a expensive and ridiculous french EUROSAF in Brest with less than 20 second grade racers...as of course all the best sailors went to World event in Japan.

The first objective of FFV is to "promote sailing"

Difficult to accept that adults whose salaries - for some of them- and fees - for everybody- are paid by our licences and taxes

do everything they can to prevent U19yo young sailors to participate and enjoy  the international competitions they deserve through their talent and numerous hours of training.

A waste also for the excellent young coaches who had no other choice that to follow the old aparatchiks decisions.

If you believe like us in the real value of sport, you know that between the warning signal and the finish line no politics can help, the same way as on a sailboat offshore with a gale force wind crew is alone to fight...

Here come the 2 last advices:

=> Smile to  people of national sailing federation but never overtrust them as some of them  can act for themselves first. They have full power on coaches...If you have courage, put your nose in the ratio structures fees% total fees, compare it o other countries federations and you will learn a lot about efficiency of these guys

=> Don't forget this basic rule:

With a well balanced planning of competitions, the more you play, the more chance you have to win and don't miss the best races !

...and above everything,  forget politics and little guys to continue to enjoy sailing everywhere as we do.

Competition is probably the best way to learn how to sail fast but only a part of sailing; The sea is still a world of freedom and I sailed myself only 20% of our life with a licence.

ALCYONE is an OUTREMER 55L from 2003 bought in New Zealand in january 2017; this cat is same type as PAPOOSE, the cat we sailed with Helena and Jim from 1998 to 2004 around the world through red see.

Goal is to make a complete refit and enjoy again PACIFIC before sailing back through South Africa.