Around 250 of the world's top young sailors from more than 45 countries will travel to Wales from July 18 to 26 for the Championships, an event that is always one of the most fiercely contested on the international junior racing calendar.

The Optimist class is widely regarded as the breeding ground for future international sailing success with four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie and Wales' own London 2012 470 class silver medallist, Hannah Mills, both Optimist graduates.

Around 90 per cent of sailors at London 2012 raced Optimist as juniors.

"We're very much looking forward to hosting the Optimists in Pwllheli," said Bob Lowe, chairman of the Events Committee in Pwllheli.

"Pwllheli is a special place where you are guaranteed a warm welcome.

"With the fabulous sailing waters of Cardigan Bay and a beautiful backdrop of the Snowdonia National Park everyone will have a memorable Championships on and off the water."

Pwllheli is situated on the north Wales coastline, giving sailors the opportunity to ply their trade on some of the UK's best waters in Cardigan Bay.

The Optimist class is widely regarded as the stepping stone for juniors to make their way into the elite of sailing ©Alan Dop Photography



Pwllheli has hosted many events for some of the biggest international racing classes, catering for more than 6,000 competitors, with more than 1,500 squad sailors training at the venue each winter.

It was also the venue for the 2014 Optimist International Clinic from July 22 to 25 and Pwllheli International Optimist Regatta on Saturday and Sunday.

This regatta, which saw 64 youngsters from 11 nations compete, was dominated by Welsh sailors, as William Hall took victory ahead of Malta's Victoria Schultheis.

Hatty Morsley and Christopher Jones claimed third and fourth spots respectively.

Both Morsley and Hall, along with Rhys Lewis, are part of the five-strong Great Britain team for the Optimist World Championships in Argentina in August.

"Pwllheli is the best place to sail in Britain and it's good more people get to know what a great place it is," said Morsley.

"The beach is fab and the waves can be great!"

Tim Hall, Optimist European Championships 2015 event director, added: "With good conditions both days, sailors got to sample the excellent sailing at Pwllheli and will have gained some useful knowledge ready to return for the European Championship.

"All the feedback has been positive and the event team will be working hard over the next year to ensure an amazing European Championships in July 2015."

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