Peter Barclay visits New Zealand
The President of IODA visited New Zealand during the NZ National Optimist Championships at Easter. Peter's visit was in preparation for the 2011 World Championships.
Peter Barclay, of Peru, the President of the International Optimist Association (IODA) recently enjoyed a four day visit to New Zealand in advance of the 2011 Optimist World Championships being staged in Napier over the New Year period.
During his visit he spent time with the Organising Committee for the World Champs regatta, and was able to take in some local Optimist sailing action in Auckland at the Optimist teams and fleet racing Nationals off Wakatere.
Barclay was accompanied to Napier by Peter Dawson and Adrian Mannering for a whirlwind visit which included a tour of the Napier Sailing Club where he was able to meet with the Club Manager Lyle Tresadern and to inspect the Club’s facilities and the local sailing waters.
400 competitors and Team Officials are expected to arrive in December and the Class President took a look at the planned accommodation arrangements and local venues where ceremonies and functions will be held.
Napier City will pull out all the stops to show off their slice of New Zealand to the hundreds of visiting international sailors and their families and Barclay met with Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott who outlined their commitment to making this regatta a success on all counts.
The event is expected to attract teams from 50 different nations – each of them bringing their top five sailors to Napier. The main event, which will be the biggest international yachting event for a single class ever hosted in New Zealand, runs from December 30th – January 10th and is preceded by an Invitational Pre-Worlds Regatta.
by Jodie Bakewell-White, 6:26 AM Thu 5 May 2011 GMT
