The Midland Optimist Team - MOT - exists to foster and support young sailors up to 16 years of age who sail the "Optimist" class sailing dinghy, and who live or sail in the Midlands. 
Where MOT originated
MOT was formed some 15 or so years ago, in recognition that across the Midlands there were many sailing clubs each with only a small number of junior sailors. At their own clubs, these sailors could only progress so far - to make any further progress, they needed the opportunity to sail and be coached in larger groups than were available at their home clubs. MOT filled this need then, as it does today. We do not replace a young sailor's home club but provide an improved opportunity for them to train with their peers on a regular basis.
Core Values
MOT operates with no distinction whatsoever on any grounds of race, religion, gender or social background. We require a minimum sailing standard (based on achievement of a national standard known as RYA level 2) which means that the sailor should be confident sailing a triangular course involving tacking and gybing and be able to recover from a capsize. But this apart membership would only be denied to someone on the grounds of gross misconduct. We deliberately keep our costs as low as we can to avoid excluding sailors on the grounds of ability to pay.
We are always conscious that there are implicit dangers in any sporting activity that involves the use of water. Safety is of paramount concern. We ensure that adults involved in leading activities have adequate personal experience to make informed decisions about safety as necessary, and would not hesitate to suspend or cancel an activity if, for example, weather conditions so dictated.
We are also sensitive to the need to provide a safe environment for the young people who make up MOT. It is a parent-led organisation, and for most of our activities parents or guardians remain present with their charges, or make private arrangements with other parents to provide local supervision. For the small number of activities we undertake that involve periods away from parental supervision, we ensure the presence of appropriately qualified adults. We have a written child protection policy based on that used by IOCA, the National Association for this type of dinghy.
Within this framework of values, our aim is to help each young sailor develop his or her full potential within the Optimist class.
The Optimist Dinghy
The International Optimist - affectionately known as the Oppy - is a simple, stable boat which is ideal for children who are learning to sail and which, as they gain experience, provides exhilarating racing at all levels. Its popularity is attested by the estimated 350,000 boats which have been built and sailed throughout the world. In Britain it has been adopted by the Royal Yachting Association as the pivot of its junior training programme and its annual championships regularly attract up to around 300 entries - more than any other sailing dinghy in the country. Quite apart from its value in training young sailors, it helps children from the age of about 6 upwards gain confidence in themselves - there are few other sports indeed which require such young children to make their own decisions to the same extent.
Many well known names in sailing have started their sailing careers in Optimists, including Ellen MacArthur and Ben Ainslie (who is a previous winner of the national Optimist championships).
Our Activities
MOT has an annual calendar of activities based around training, coaching and racing. Among the activities we undertake are:
"Traveller" events. These form the core of our annual programme. They are one day events, each taking place at a different sailing club throughout the Midlands. After an initial briefing the morning is spent in training activities, led by the MOT coach. In the afternoon, the training messages are reinforced and put into practice in a series of short races, with some further coaching during the races. At the end of the day, the coach debriefs on the whole day.
"Open" meetings. These events, again at different sailing clubs across the Midlands, provide a more structured competitive environment, often with the opportunity of sailing and testing skill levels against sailors from other regions.
Winter Training. We run a residential training weekend each January (designed to blow away the Christmas cobwebs!) to give the sailors the experience of sailing in more adverse conditions.
Sea Training. We run a residential training weekend at a sea venue in the early Spring. For sailors from the Midlands, the opportunity to train on the sea is particularly important preparation for competing against the many Optimist sailors from other regions whose home club is on the coast.
Preparation for Selection. For Midland Optimist sailors invited to compete in the annual selection events (for selection to the teams to represent Britain in European and World championships) we run a specific preparation weekend at the venue where the selections will be held.
Support at Major Events
In addition to the specific training and racing activities of the MOT, we also provide support at major events. Particularly for the sailors from smaller clubs, just starting to compete in larger events, this support is very important.
The type of support varies, but typically (for example at the Optimist National Championships) we will provide a daily briefing on weather, tide etc from an experienced racing sailor, with suggestions on a suitable race plan. We will have at least one support boat (often 2) on the water which, in addition to helping provide safety cover, will carry sailors' lunches, a plentiful supply of drink, and will act as the on-the-water base for Midland sailors between races.
Additionally, because the sailors have trained with other Midland sailors during the MOT activities mentioned above, they know both other sailors and accompanying parents, meaning that there is both a social and a mutual support group, together with sources of advice (for example on race procedure) or of practical help (for example with running repairs).
Facilities
MOT does not have a clubhouse or permanent location, instead basing our activities at the various clubs across the Midlands from where our sailors come. Our sailors do not leave their home clubs, as MOT provides an additional - rather than a replacement - facility.
The only major property owned by MOT is a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), which is used for coaching and safety purposes. This boat, of the same specification as boats used for similar purposes by the Royal Yachting Association, is driven by appropriately qualified adult members of MOT, and is trailed from activity to activity as necessary. It is primarily used for the specific MOT activities described above. Additionally, it is the MOT support boat at major events, such as the National Championships, where we provide both the boat and qualified drivers to assist in the Championships safety cover. Finally, we sometimes also loan it (on certain conditions, such as minimum qualifications for drivers) to other organisations with complementary aims to MOT.
Links with Other Organisations
MOT is independent of both the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and the Optimist National Class Association (IOCA), but works closely with both. Our adult members have been actively involved with IOCA throughout our history, including a former MOT Chairman becoming the IOCA Chairman, involvement in IOCA coaching and training events and the provision of qualified measurers to support IOCA events.
We have similarly had a close relationship with the RYA, particularly on a regional basis, where for several years we have formed part of the RYA stand at the prestigious [[Boating, Caravanning and Leisure]] exhibition at the NEC - this year, indeed, we provided a live sailing display on the NEC Lake on the opening day of the Exhibition.
Most recently we have worked alongside the RYA with their initiative for regional Zone Talent Squads in helping identify suitable candidates and in providing continuity of training outside the period in which the Zone Squads operate.
Success
MOT has been a very successful organisation. Many MOT sailors have achieved places in the National Optimist Squad over the years - some 15% of National Squad members were MOT sailors in one recent year. Some have gone on to represent their country in Optimists and other classes. Since the introduction 2 years ago of the RYA Zone Talent Squads, MOT sailors have formed the large majority of the Western and Northern Squads.
Quite apart from the sailors who have achieved National recognition, there are many other MOT sailors who have become better club sailors as a result of MOT involvement, forming good friendships and sailing partnerships with sailors from other clubs, and who have increased their personal confidence and enjoyment in sailing.
The Future...
The core of MOT's activities have undoubtedly been very successful, and it is our intention to keep these. But there is always room for development and improvement. Here, we look to work increasingly closely with the RYA High Performance Managers as the Zone Talent Squads develop. We want to develop our coaching ability so as to bring on younger coaches - such as sailors who themselves have recently moved out of the Optimist class. We are keen to find ways of involving more sailors, since there are many Optimist sailors at clubs who never explore their own potential by travelling to other clubs or to open events.
And most importantly, we would like to help our sailors develop their own potential to the fullest extent - eventual success in major competitions is the most important factor in this, with their experience and success being an essential catalyst for each successive generation of new sailors.
