International Optimist Class
Each year thousands of kids are introduced to the sport of sailing through the Optimist Dinghy, the largest youth sailing class in the world for young sailors between the ages of 7 to 15 years.
The Optimist is where young sailors learn to make new friends with those that share a passion for sailing and the love and freedom of being out on the water.
Optimist sailors are glued together by the camaraderie that comes from the ‘Opti Experience’ for both girls and boys. They are part of an extended family of Opti sailors in over 110 countries around the world.
With over 173,000 Optimists built since it became an International Class in 1983, generations of boys and girls started sailing and learned to race in local, national, continental and world championships.
Today, thousands of Optimist sailors from all corners of the globe actively compete with the goal of one day representing their country in the Optimist World Championship which each year brings the top youth sailors from over 60+ nations together to test their skills against one another.
The Optimist has a rich sailing history. For over 50 years, the Optimist class has produced numerous World and Olympic Champions, many of whom, such as Peter Burling and Sir Ben Ainslie have gone on to win the America’s Cup. At the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, 85 % of the competitors started sailing in the Optimist Dinghy.
Sailor health and environmental health are important values for the Optimist Class. We believe that education and awareness to sun safety is an important key message for Optimist sailors who spend long hours out in the sun on the water. Using a sunscreen that works in the harsh sailing environment is a vital part of their racing ‘kit’.
Optimist sailors are also the future guardians of the sea and planet. They care about the marine environment because it is their field of play. Using a sun care product that not only helps to prevent sun damage to the skin but is also less harmful to the ocean environment aligns with the health and safety as well as sustainability values of the Optimist Class.
The Optimist Class is thrilled to be working with Harken Derm as a partner in the collaboration on education awareness of sun safety to young sailors around the globe.
