Welcome to the Optimist Section of HISC Website

HISC Optimists are alive and well and if anybody wants information or input on the 2013 HISC Opi Season then please get in touch with me by email or at the club. The new season is fast approaching so I felt it would be timely to mention how our plans are developing for 2013.

IOCA events have continued throughout the winter with squads and championships. The next open event being at Papercourt this Saturday (19 Jan) followed by Burghfield 26 January. Plenty of choice on 2 and 3 March: Girls only training at Rutland, an Open meeting at Poole YC and if its too cold you can hide in the warmth at Alexander Palace for the RYA Dinghy Show. 9 and 10 March are the Spring Championships at new Opi venue, West Mercia.

The HISC season will start in late March. Easter training towards the end of the Easter holidays and half term training in May.

Moving On, we wish Oscar Wright and Mathew Hine the very best of luck as they move into bigger boats later this season. Both young men having been great ambassadors for our HISC Optimist Fleet, well done. Some of you may also come across Oscar as he is planning to do some coaching.

I am hoping that within the renewal mailing coming from the club with your membership packs, handbooks etc there will be more detailed plans for the new season. Rear Commodore Anne Marie Wood and her team are working hard to put together a smart programme of sailing for beginners and experienced sailors alike. This will include some sail aways and other fun stuff, team racing, sprint series and conventional coached and uncoached racing. Sara and Louise the Tera Class Captains have agreed we will work closely as a fleet with them, so you guys can all get to sail against each other and know each other better.

HISC is also researching the option of buying a new training Optimist, which drains and has a sleeved sail.

We hope if this boat arrives we can rent it to those of you who want to try the world's most successful youth starter boat. This newly designed Dutch Opi will also host the current racing rig that the championship boats use. Its had a seriously good endorsement from senior RYA coaches and IOCA alike. Hopefully more on this soon. HISC Optimist Open Meeting, main fleet and regatta fleet 8 and 9 June.

Here's looking forward to a terrific 2013 season.
David Nicholls