Optimist International Camp in Vitoria, Brazil: Empowering the Next Generation of Sailors
This past week, Vitoria, Brazil. In collaboration with UR Sailing, we organized an extraordinary Optimist International Camp, bringing together young athletes from around South America to train, compete, and learn using the latest in sailing technology.
Our Sales Manager, Will Huerth, personally traveled to Brazil, accompanied by 34 brand-new Atlases—our industry-leading sailing instrument. But we didn’t just bring cutting-edge technology to South America; we transformed the entire training experience by running the camp with RaceSense. This allowed these young sailors to get insights into their performance, both on the water and during debrief sessions, revolutionizing the way they train and approach racing.
Technology Meets Performance
For the first time, these sailors had access to real-time data, giving them a new perspective on their starts and enabling them to try different techniques. With RaceSense and the Atlas, every decision on the water was backed by precise data, offering insights that previously belonged only to professional athletes.
As Julian Manche from Peru shared:
“I think it’s very productive and it can help us win races and move forward in the sport. I like the fact that the compass is helping me see the degrees I am sailing at. I can see if I get a header and tack, and if I continue, it can tell me if I am sailing with a leeward or windward heel and what actions I need to take to balance the boat.”
Brazilian sailor Felipe Hutzler said:
“I like Vakaros because you can check out your speed while sailing, and after the races, you can analyze all the data that the instrument collects during the sailing session. I think this is really important to improve our technique.”
Arthur Lamin, another Brazilian participant, emphasized the value of this experience:
“I think Vakaros is really cool. You get information about your speed and how you are sailing—you know when you are going too slow and the heel the boat is sailing at. It’s amazing to have this experience here in Brazil.”
And Felipe Miguel summed up the excitement perfectly:
“I am sailing with Vakaros here, and I am loving it. I automatically know my speed, the heel, the time to start—and I just love using it.”
