Royal Vancouver Yacht Club is proud to host the Optimist Canadian National Championship, August 17 to 23. This event highlights RVYC’s strong commitment to junior sailing and our dedication to staging some of Canada’s finest regattas. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, we are excited to bring more marquee events to the West Coast and to showcase Canadian youth talent on the international stage.
The Canadian Optimist Dinghy Championship serves as a critical stepping stone in the developmental pathway for young sailors. It provides emerging youth competitors with a national stage to test their abilities, refine their competitive mindset, and measure themselves against the country’s best. This championship not only elevates the standards of youth sailing in Canada but also inspires participants to pursue higher levels of competition, from provincial and national high-performance programs to international events and ultimately the Olympic arena.
We expect more than 100 boats to compete to determine which Optimist sailors will represent Canada internationally in 2026 and 2027. Competitors and families can look forward to a full program that includes on-water racing, a festive opening ceremony, and a celebratory banquet, all designed to deliver an outstanding regatta experience.
Hosting this championship has been years in the making and reinforces our commitment to the Optimist class. RVYC benefits from two expert coaches on staff, Federico Temesio and Leonardo Santos, both with IODA experience. Their leadership has helped grow our team from fewer than ten boats to more than 30.
With a commitment to professionalism, ambition, and excellence, this event plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of elite Canadian sailors. We are proud to support the Optimist platform and to bring top-level coaching and competition to Canadian youth. We look forward to welcoming sailors and their families to Vancouver this August. this August.