2022 World Optimist Championships

We are proud to announce the team for the 2022 World Optimist Championships!

Congratulations to Aydin O’Hara and Robert Clark. Want to know more about Ayden and Rober? Here’s an interview for your reading:

Aydin O’Hara

My name is Aydin O'Hara and I am 13 years old.

I started sailing at the age of eight my first race was youth Nationals Midmar where I was awarded the most improved sailor. This year I have won the KZN provincials, Freestate provincials and was selected for the African's and Worlds teams. I have also managed to get a sponsorship from Ullmans sails. My uncle Vernon and the Brown family got me into sailing as we spent so much time at the Vaal dam with his family and watched his kids sailing. The optimist got me interested and has taught me the basics of sailing.

I'm so excited and grateful to be involved in this experience and being able to sail against 285 boats.

This year my goal for the 2022 Optimist World Championships is try get into the top 100.My catch phrase for this year is good jibes only!

Robert Clark

My name is Robert Clark and I am 14 years old. I started sailing with my dad and sisters on their lasers. I thought it was very scary. When I was younger, I did a lot of cricket (every weekend) so I didn't have much time for sailing. But when I turned 12, I decided to go to a sailing lesson and I loved it! That's where I met Aydin and he convinced me with my dad to keep going. From then on out I sailed almost every weekend and missed a lot of school. But I love it!

When I did my first nationals (Dec 2021) I came 4th which I wasn't expecting but I am happy with the result.

I won the Western Cape Provincials in April this year in the Optimist class. My sisters, my dad and my granny got me into sailing.

Optimist dinghies have one of the largest fleets for my age group and it is fun to learn on. I am very excited to compete in a World Championship and want to do my best. I also want to meet all the other people from different countries and explore sailing in a new part of the world.

This year my goal for the 2022 Optimist World Championship is to finish in the top half of the fleet

Something most people don’t know about me is that I like camping in the remotest parts of the African bush and enjoy watching Formula 1.S

My catch phrase for this year Oh duck 🦆!