2022 Opti Instructors

Following are some of the great instructors who will be teaching in the Operation Optimist program in 2022.

Operation Optimist Home Page

Check the Current Enrollment
FAQ

Triona Hinkson

Hello, my name is Triona Hinkson. I am a college student from Dublin, Ireland. I grew up beside the sea so I have been sailing all my life. I’ve been lucky enough to go to many sailing events all around Ireland as well as some in England, France and Germany. I have also sailed down the Shannon (Irelands longest river), camping on the river banks along the way. As well as sailing I enjoy many water sports such as paddle boarding, surfing and swimming- even in the middle of winter!

Sophie Beddoe

My name is Sophie Beddoe. I’m a university student from Dublin, Ireland. I started sailing in The National Yacht Club when I was 6 years old in an optimist and have been passionate about the sport ever since. I have worked my way up to be now racing J109’s, J80’s and j24’s. I became an Irish Sailing qualified instructor in 2019 and have had the opportunity to work in various clubs developing my instructor techniques and skills. I studied Outdoor Adventure Management in college last year, in order to further develop my skills as a sailor and an instructor. In college I also fell in love with windsurfing and hope to get my windsurfing instructorship very soon!

Cian Lynch

My name is Cian Lynch, and I am an Irish Sailing coach and senior Instructor. I have been sailing my whole life optimists, topper, laser. I have competed in numerous national and world events throughout my sailing career. I am also a bowman on a J109, where I have competed at a national level. Outside of sailing, I have interests in almost every sport, particularly Formula One. I also have a fond interest in cooking.

Iseult Larkin

My name is Issy Larkin and I am a sailing instructor from Dublin, Ireland. I started sailing when I was seven years old in an opti. Since then I have sailed a variety of boats; including toppers, fevas and 420s, and also some big boats too. I have been instructing since I was sixteen and have worked with all levels of sailors; from complete beginners to racers on the national circuit here in Ireland. I am currently a member of my college team racing squad at Trinity College Dublin, and serve as the secretary and second-in-command of my university sailing club, Dublin University Sailing Club. We are the largest student sailing club in Ireland, and compete regularly at intervarsity events, both nationally and internationally. I love the sport of sailing as it can be so rewarding as both a sailor and an instructor, is great fun and has given me some of my best friends!

Sophia Bolger

I am currently in 3rd year Medicine in University College Dublin and a member of Greystones Sailing Club, Ireland. I moved to the United Kingdom when I was a kid, where I first got the chance to sail. I have been a Dinghy Sailing Instructor for the past three years in Greystones Sailing Club, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. I am currently acting as the role of Public Relations Officer on the UCD Sailing Committee and am part of the college’s Team Racing Firefly Team. Last summer myself and fellow instructors from Greystones Sailing Club had a whole new sailing experience of chartering a Sun Odyssey 449 around the Greek Isles. It was one of the most amazing experiences to date of my sailing career. I have loved every chance and opportunity I have had to travel, once attending a school in Paris to learn the language. During my spare time I love to paddle board, sea swim and roller skate (with a preference for nice weather!).

Greg Arrowsmith

Hi, my name is Greg, I’m from Dublin, Ireland! I first started sailing when I was 8 in optis and have gone on to sail loads of boats at some cool international events! I’ve competed in Feva and Laser world championships and team raced in an international college cup in Lake Garda, Italy against top college teams from around the world. Aside from sailing, I love to play field hockey and I enjoy cooking. I study politics and economics at Trinity College Dublin and am just finishing a sabbatical year where I’ve been working full-time as entertainments officer for the students union, organizing the social lives and parties for 20,000 students!

Andrew Tobin

Hi there, my name is Andrew, I’m 22 years old and from Dublin, Ireland. I’ve sailed since I was 9 years old beginning in Optis and then moving into racing Lasers in Ireland and internationally. Outside of sailing I love to travel and try new things like cycling around a Formula 1 track in France and skydiving in Slovenia.

Ciara Leacy

I’m from Ireland and spent the last 5 years instructing in Bray Sailing Club in Wicklow, Ireland. I’ve instructed courses from beginner to advanced and instructed kids from 5-18 years old and coached kids in 420’s, optimists, lasers, fevas and RS200’s and laser picos . I’ve also coached adults on weekends and coached adults with disabilities. I’m also Freshers and Beginners Captain for my university sailing team and coached beginner training in 1720s and Fireflies for University College Dublin. I’m an active sailor myself for my university sailing team in team racing, which recently won the gold fleet in our last team racing regatta. I also compete in a Laser in regattas in my sailing club some weekends. I have a strong love for sailing and racing and enjoy working in teams, making this a reason I have a strong love for instructing. I’ve gotten to do really cool things in my sailing career like sail on a tall ship called the Spirit of Oysterhaven, which was a very different experience to dinghy sailing but I really enjoyed it. I’m currently a student in University College Dublin, studying Biochemistry. Although it’s hard I really love my course and got to participate in really cool lab work.