The São Paulo State Optimist Championship ended on Saturday (4) at the Yacht Club de Ilhabela (YCI), after four days of racing and activities focused on developing the new generations of sailing. Held between 1 and 4 July, the competition brought together 71 children from clubs and sailing schools in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia, in the Veterans, Newcomers and Sailing School categories.
Among the participants were 10 students from the YCI Sailing School, experiencing an official competition for the first time. The presence of these young sailors was one of the event's main highlights and reinforced the importance of bringing students close to the routine of a championship from the earliest stages of learning.
The final day of racing began with drizzle and cold in Ilhabela, conditions that did not dampen the children's enthusiasm. With light wind of up to 8 knots, all categories were able to compete, including the youngest from the Sailing School.
Winner of the Sailing School category, Dante Giudetti overcame his fear of the wind last year when he joined the YCI school. "When I started sailing here at the club, I realised I don't need to be afraid of the wind," said the 8-year-old athlete, who won two of the three races in his category. Dante shared the podium with his sister Helena, also a student at the club's school.
Among the veterans, the overall champion was Helena Echenique, from the Ilhabela Sailing School, who also finished first in the female youth category. The competition also awarded the Flotilha da Garoa, from YCSA, as the best flotilla of the championship.
Inspiration from son to father
Besides being the first official competition for some young athletes, the championship was also the first experience at sea for children from São Paulo, used to training on the Guarapiranga reservoir. That was the case of Miguel Pedreira, from YCSA. Unlike other families, where the love of sailing passes from father to son, it was Miguel who inspired his father, Arthur, to sail. "Seeing him complete a race, with all the difficulty the sea brings, is impressive! Taking part in a competition like this teaches responsibility and how to deal with the unexpected," says Arthur.
Development on and off the water
The championship programme went beyond the racing. Olympic medallist and five-time world champion Bruno Prada spoke with the young sailors about experiences in sailing, preparation for championships and the importance of the Optimist class in developing athletes. "I have been coming to this club for many years, and I don't remember a championship of this relevance. And it is really nice to see this exchange between the younger and the older ones," he added.
The programme also included a lecture on the environment and marine biodiversity, led by YCI's Environment Director, Júlio Cardoso, with the participation of the Humpback Whale Project. The awards ceremony closed the four days of activities, celebrating the results and, above all, the participation of a new generation beginning to build its history in the sport.
By: Redação Mundo Mar
Photo: Triplo G | On Board
