520 sailors from 29 countries descend on València for Optiorange 2025
by Pep Portas 28 Feb 00:55 NZDT
27 February - 2 March 2025
Optiorange 2024 © Pep Portas-RCNV
Optiorange 2025 officially closes its entries with 520 sailors representing 29 countries. The International Optimist class event, which is part of the Optimist Excellence Cup calendar, is now in its seventh edition and in just seven years has become a benchmark for children's sailing, both nationally and internationally.
The fleet will have four days of racing ahead of them. Thursday and Friday will be for the qualifying round. If the race committee can complete the programme with at least 4 closed races in the five groups, the final series will be held on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2. A maximum of 12 races are scheduled.
The reigning world champion, the Canarian Marta Mansito (RCN Gran Canaria) will be one of the main protagonists in the waters of Valencia. The Canary Islander has achieved good results in her races in Spain, with the fourth place in the Euromarina Optimist Torrevieja standing out. She will also be in the Optiorange of the absolute winner in the Torrevieja event, the Turkish Mehmet Erkut Budak.
But they will not be the only ones, and it is difficult to predict any of the podiums for next Sunday given the high level of sailors in Valencia. The host club has options, highlighting Pablo López, Almudena Basterra or Pablo Valero. At national level, there are many who can be at the top, among them Juan Lleonart (CN EL Balis), podium in the last big national Optimist events; Izan Rogel or Gonzalo Ballester (RCN Torrevieja); Inés Rodado (CN Mar Menor Los Alcázares); Hugo Sarmiento (CM Almería) among many others.
The United States is the country with the largest representation in the Optiorange, with 51 sailors, followed by the Netherlands and Poland, with 45 and 30 representatives respectively. Germany has brought 23 representatives to the capital of the Turia. Sweden is fifth with 15, while Great Britain and Switzerland will have 12 each. Norway arrives in Valencia with 10; Estonia with 9; Greece and Israel will have 7 representatives on the water. Hong Kong will have 4 and Singapore, Ireland, Ukraine and Portugal 3; Andorra has 2 sailors; Tajikistan, Turkey, Taipei, Luxembourg, Hungary, will have one representative.
The warning signal for the first race on the opening day has been set for 12.00, while for the following three days the race committee has scheduled the first race to start at 11.30, weather permitting.
More information on the official page here.