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USODA Team Trials Postponed Indefinitely

COVID19 continues to affect US Opti Circuit

Today the United States Optimist Dinghy Association issued a press release stating that the 2020 Opti Team Trials are to be postponed indefinitely. From USODA.org

In light of the CDC’s recommendation to postpone or cancel all events with 50+ attendees for the next 8 weeks, the USODA Board of Directors and Lakewood Yacht Club have agreed to postpone the 2020 Optimist Team Trials. The USNT Pre-Team Trials Practice is also postponed.
The Board is exploring options and dates to possibly reschedule the event with the current host and if unable will consider other contingency plans to look for a suitable time window for this season to hold Trials. Factors to do this are our regatta schedule, short time frame for running this event and IODA/International regattas likely to be rescheduled. We will continue to update the membership on this still very fluid situation as we get new information and make decisions.
We are sorry for the inconvenience, both logistically and financially, this decision will cause all of our families, partners, volunteers and hosts, but believe it is required to help all of us get to the other side of this situation safely and as quickly as possible.
We reached out to Omari Scott, Head Opti Coach of Coral Reef YC and contributor to OPTI TV:

I just think this whole situation is very, very unfortunate. Over the past few weeks I've seen some of my sailors be affected and they have worked so hard over the past year or more to qualify for this event and it takes away the passion from the kids because they feel like they are working and working for nothing. Some kids are just moving on from the class, and I feel like the ramifications from the COVID19 pandemic are trickling down and this is forcing kids to move on from the Opti as a class and with all these events being postponed or cancelled it affects the sailors very negatively.
John Casey, Sailing Director of Lauderdale YC:

The news is really unfortunate especially for the kids who have worked so hard for the opportunity to compete at Team Trials and make the worlds team and some of them wont have that chance again.
Priska Urban, Board Member CGSC and Parent of Opti Sailor,

As a parent I am saddened for my child by the news of postponing team trials, as my sailor, like many others has been working hard in order to make the cut - on the other hand it is a great moment to teach my sailor how to understand what is happening and refraining on going to social gatherings at this time is good for others; what she does matters. I am using this as a teaching moment and showing my daughter how to always keep the big picture in mind.

Racing was scheduled to start on April 23rd in Lakewood, Texas. Sailors were in contention to qualify for the  
  • IODA World Championship 
  • IODA European Championship
  • IODA Asian & Oceanian Championship
  • IODA North American Championship
  • Volvo Gill British National Championship
  • Sport Vlaanderen Nieuwpoortweek Regatta.
The postponement of Team Trials is throwing serious doubt on the idea that a World Championship can happen in 2020 when so many events have been cancelled or postponed. It remains to be seen the duration and scope of the effects of the COVID19 pandemic on the US Opti Class, but only time will tell. 
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