We are thrilled to announce the launch of the first officially unofficial history of Opti sailing in NZ!
1975-2005 The First Thirty Years – An Attempt at Opti History in New Zealand is a brand new book by Mike Judd, in conjunction with NZIODA and Paul and Pat Pritchett.
It’s the perfect time to welcome its release. 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the Optimist becoming an international class, and 2024 will see the 60th anniversary of the World Championships!
It’s an astonishingly well-researched and very entertaining read. It charts the story of ‘how a $150 home-built boat in a spare bedroom in Christchurch in 1975 turned into a national institution’.
It’s packed with essential info about the birth of our favourite little boat, the first arrivals in NZ, the early days of NZIODA, and how our favourite sailing class became a global phenomenon.
For more than 50 years, our members, builders, event organisers, coaches, parents, families and volunteers have been building a unique global community where young sailors can grow together as friends, competitors and teammates while learning the sport of sailing. NZIODA perfectly captures our unique community in book form.
You’ll have a chance to download the book, absolutely free, in the run-up to Nationals. We’ll alert you when we’re ready to go, and we can’t wait for you to get hold of your complimentary copy.
In the meantime, happy sailing, and we’ll keep you posted!
Best wishes from the NZ International Optimist Dinghy Association
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