Junior Sailing Association Optimist Championships This Weekend at Riverside Yacht Club

Riverside Yacht Club is hosting the 2015 Optimist Championships of the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound (JSA of LIS) this weekend.

Entrants from more than 40 clubs and sailing programs in Connecticut, Long Island and Westchester County that are members of the JSA will qualify for the regatta through outstanding performance at local regattas throughout the summer. They will compete in single-handing Optimist dinghies. Junior sailors around the world learn to sail in the 7-foot-9 inch Optis which constitute the largest youth racing class in the world.

Riverside Yacht Club Commodore Merl Baker said, “Our club is a strong supporter of the JSA and proud to have been selected as host of this premier Opti event. In addition to providing for first-class competition, the regatta committee intends that it be an educational experience on environmental care. Under event chairman Gregg Clark, the regatta will be conducted in accordance with the standards of a Gold Level Clean Regatta.”

In support of this environmental focus, SoundWaters (www.soundwaters.org) will have a booth at the event to provide education on clean regattas and how to protect Long Island Sound.

Clark estimates that there will be close to 200 competitors with another 100 spectators, coaches and support personnel. Off the water, the sailors will be able to socialize at meals, in the swimming pool and at an awards ceremony.

Photo: Junior Sailing Association race on July 31, 2015. Credit: www.jsablog.com.