195 Optimists on the Severn River

Nearly 200 kids from around the country sailed Optis out of Annapolis YC at the foot of the Easptort Bridge this morning.

The US Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) 2008 Team Trials, the most competitive junior regatta in the country, is taking place May 1-4 out of host club AYC.

Junior sailors aged eight to 15 have flocked to the Sailing Capital for this international qualifying event, which is the first major USODA regatta AYC has hosted for 10 years.

The Optimist sailors on the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay this weekend have qualified for this event at National or Regional Championship events. Top finishers this weekend will qualify to represent the U.S. at the World, European, and North American Championships, as well as international regattas in Belgium and the U.K.

This is not just a bunch of kids on boats. These are serious sailors, who are the future of our sport. Go check them out!  ~M.W.