Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit - Vallarta Yacht Club is ready to host 150 young Optimist class sailors from 14 countries who will arrive in Nuevo Vallarta in late June to compete in the 2018 Optimist North American Championships. This is one of the most important world-wide regattas for the Optimist Boat Class and one of 7 Continental Championships.

The 2018 North American Championship comprises three 'championships' - The Optimist Individual North American Championship (INAM); The Optimist Team Racing North American Championship (TRNAM) and The Optimist Nations Cup (NC).

This Regatta is an incredible opportunity to enjoy the highest level of Optimist Racing framed by an group of young athletes ages 12-15, in a festive environment. This event is especially interesting for those involved with Sailing in general and other water sports practiced in Banderas Bay.

Paradise Village Resort and Marina is the official venue for this event and all of the competitors, coaches, team leaders and country representatives will be staying at the resort. The official arrival for practice and Measurement is the 24th of June with five days of racing beginning on Tuesday, June 26. However, most of the country teams will be arriving as early as the 19th of June. Many are coming with their supportive families and coaches, making a vacation of the event and enjoying the Mexican hospitality and the beautiful destinations of Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta.

This is the third time that Vallarta Yacht Club is hosting the Optimist North American Championship. The first was in 2007, and the second in 2014. Vallarta Yacht Club is known to be a great organizer of World Class Regattas such as the Pan-American Games in 2011, Copa Mexico, 2014 Optimist North American Championship, the 2016 Laser World Championships as well as their signature events, WesMex International Small Boat Regatta, and Banderas Bay Regatta.

OPTINAM 2018 includes 14 participating countries, 150 boats with 200 sailors, coaches and Team Leaders participating in the event. Well over 50 Race Management personnel ashore and on-the-water include members of the International Optimist Dinghy Association, the Mexican Sailing Federation, the Mexican Optimist Association, the Eighth Naval District and the Vallarta Yacht Club.

Countries represented in the competition include: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Peru, Puerto Rico, Singapore, United States, Uruguay, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Mexico.

The young sailors competing IN OPTINAM 2018 are the best, most rapidly developed and most talented young world-wide sailors. Many of them will very likely be the next Olympic champions. The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by children up to the age of 15. It is one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, with over 150,000 boats officially registered and many more built but never registered.

Watching the Races

The Race Courses will be set off the Nuevo Vallarta Beach in the Tourist destination of Riviera Nayarit, from where the races will be visible. During the races there will be spectator boats available for those wanting to see the races from up close.

For more information about OPTINAM 2018 and volunteering opportunities, please go to 2018northamericans.optiworld.org and follow us on Facebook.