Preparations for the 2013 IODA North American Championships (Optinam) are nearing completion, President of Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) Anthony Bailey declared at today’s press conference at Barr’s Bay Park.Bermuda will host the international regatta involving 180 youth sailors from 20 countries July 3-11 and will be represented by a 20 member squad that includes top end sailors Chase Cooper, Benn Smith, Ceci Wollmann and Campbell Patton.Bermuda’s sailors are being coached by Martin Jenkins and 2004 IODA North American champion Elijah Simmons, who competed in this year’s Marion Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race aboard the sloop Spirit of Bermuda.Racing in next month’s regatta will take place in the Great Sound, beginning July 5.Speaking at today’s press conference, Bailey said preparations for the event are on the “home stretch”.He said 180 Optimist Dinghies that have been shipped in for the event will be unloaded over the weekend at Barr’s Park which will be turned into BODA’s “land base” for the next three weeks or more.He added that international sailors will begin arriving in a week’s time to get some “early training” ahead of the official July 3rd arrival date.The former Somerset Trojans footballer said a world class Continental Championship takes an “unusual amount of volunteer effort and coordination”.“Our host club Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) has opened its doors to the event and along with BODA membership has supplied the expertise, manpower and equipment needed to execute the on-the-water needs of what we believe is the largest one design regatta in Bermuda’s history,” Bailey added.“The entire Bermuda yachting fraternity has embraced this event and has come together from all parts of the Island to help us with all aspects of the regatta from start to finish.”RBYC Flag Officer Leatrice Roman added: “It takes a lot of time and effort for everyone to participate in this and Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is thrilled to be a part. This is such a prestigious event with many countries and many young Bermuda sailors, and we hope you all will come out and support our children and enjoy the level of racing our children and the rest of the world are engaged in.”Bailey also thanked the event’s various sponsors that includes the Department of Tourism, Department of Youth and Sport and Bank of Bermuda Foundation.“Of course an event of this magnitude requires an equally parge budget,” he said. “This regatta would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship and gifts in kind from the corporate and public sectors of Bermuda.”