2024 Optimist European Team Racing Championship

It all kicked off at 10.00am when 64 young sailors took over the Monaco race area for the start of the Optimist European Team Racing Championship, and from day one lived up to expectations in creating suspense and putting on a great show.

Contestants keep up the pace

The 16 teams put their hearts and souls into the first day in a moderate easterly with slight chop, conditions that showcased the talent of these budding young helmsmen. Not even the wet weather could slow down the well-oiled organisation machine that saw 65 match races run back to back in a few hours. A good pace that has to be maintained to complete all 120 matches by Thursday evening.

Spanish supremacy

Nothing upset the score of the Spanish who dominated all their encounters. At the end of the first day, trends are starting to emerge, with the Italians on fine form to take a provisional 2nd place ahead of the Turks in 3rd.

All teams are more determined than ever, promising some great duels to come. By Thursday evening the Gold and Silver rounds will have been determined for the races on Friday and Saturday morning.

Predictions will come clear on Saturday afternoon when the two semi-finals take place pitting the four best teams against each other before the highly anticipated final.

Organised by Yacht Club de Monaco under the aegis of the International Optimist Dinghy Association and World Sailing, in partnership with FxPro, Monaco Marine and SLAM, the Optimist European Team Racing Championship is establishing itself as the big event for the new generation of sailors. The match race format celebrates team spirit where technique, tactics and communication come together as one.