I agree with many posts around, including how expensive optimist sailing can be (it already was back in the mid 80s when I was still strongly involved in the class as a sailor). However, if you check recent world podiums you see a bunch of south Americans, South Asians, etc, ruling in the classifications. Europe is not the major force anymore, but countries that are economically challenge (to some extend). I know there are many rich people in these countries too, however not all of the top sailors belong to the upper classes. So economics is a factor, but not the only one. I would say that european sailors being physically bigger younger, can be a factor too.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.