There are four events a year at which class members can qualify to represent the USODA at international regattas:

• Team Trials (Summer Team Selection)
• Team Race National Championship
• Midwinters (or other Spring Team Selection event)
• Team Race Midwinter Championship. 

These events are spread throughout the year with Team Trials typically in May, Team Race National Championship in July, Spring Team Qualifier in Oct-Nov, and TR MWs in January.

USODA International Committee is proud to announce a brand new paperless process for the seeding of the INT teams. We will be utilizing the new website and invites will sent to the email address on file for the Sailor. Parents will have 24 hours to register the sailor, after the 24 period expires, the next sailor qualified from the list will be invited.

Fleet Racing

Based on the results from Team Trials, USODA typically sends teams to the following regattas:

• IODA Worlds
• European Championship
• North American Championship
• British Nationals
• Flanders Youth Regatta
   

Based on the results at the Spring Team Selection Event, USODA typically sends teams to:

• IODA South American Championship
• Trofeo de Palamos
• The Lake Garda Meeting
• International Easter Regatta in Holland
   

One additional regatta is seeded per year:

• Asian IODA championship

Depending on its schedule, this regatta has the possibility of being seeded during Team Trials or Spring Team Qualifier.

Team Racing

Based on the results from Team Racing Nationals, USODA typically sends a team to:

• Opti Team Cup in Berlin

Based on the results at the TR Midwinters, USODA usually sends two teams to:

• 'Marco Rizzotti' Team Race in Venice

The budget for each USODA international team is calculated based on the following travel schedule:  arrival day, early arrival practice days, lay day (may include measurement, practice race and/or opening ceremony), race days, and departure day.  This schedule may be modified with approval of the Class.

Coaches are typically selected from among those coaches who have worked with our top US Optimist sailors on the USNT and OPD2. Participation in the USNT and OPD2 is not mandatory, but is a good way for sailors to get to know the coaches they will likely have at USODA international events for which they qualify. The committee tries to balance between these coaches, new coaches to the class and selected Internationally recognized top optimist coaches.

In most cases housing and charter boats have been prearranged by USODA, either because the event is organized by IODA and includes the housing and charter arrangements, or because the event is held in the same lcoation each year and USODA has a standing reservation which has worked well in past years. Elizabeth Kratzig has worked with USODA families for prior international spring and summer events and can assist with air tickets, rental cars, etc.  Note that there is a modest per family charge to work with Elizabeth.

Team Leaders are selected by USODA in consultation with Team Coaches.  The goal is to select a parent who has a good working relationship with the coach(es), and has experience with other USODA international teams with first choice to be a USODA Board member.  For IODA events, particularly the Worlds, USODA also tries to pick a team leader that can represent USODA's interests at the IODA General Meeting.  This is a difficult job and all parents of international sailors are expected to take on some responsibility to ensure success of the event.

You can expect to be contacted shortly after the team is finished being selected. Sailors do cancel and move between teams, and it takes longer than expected to finalize the teams. Once finalized, USODA selects a team leader, who will use the contact information on the web site to communicate with the team. Note that emails will go to the email address listed for the skipper.

USODA prepares a draft budget and collects the budgeted amount from sailors via event registration page at usoda.org. Net proceeds from the process are forwarded to the team leader who is thereafter responsible for the funds, the budget, and a final accounting for the event.  Net proceeds include credit card charges, monies actually paid out in advance by USODA on behalf of the team including (registrations and charters if applicable for IODA events), patches and burgees for the team, and $50 per sailor for the International Travel Fund.