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One-Design Class Type: Dinghy

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Youth

Approximately how many class members do you have? 1200

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About United States Optimist Dinghy Association

USODA is the national class organization for Optimist sailing in the United States.

Our mission is simple: USODA will support and sustain junior sailors, their families, and junior sailing programs with leadership, information, and organization which facilitates the growth of Optimist sailing at all levels. We will accomplish this while promoting fun, safety, self-reliance, and good sportsmanship.

USODA is a 501(c)(3) educational organization, able to receive tax deductible contributions from individuals. Its interest is in promoting a boat, the International Optimist Dinghy (IOD), and promoting sailing across the United States.

Boats Produced: Over 23,000 in the United States

Class boat builder(s):

The Class has multiple builders, with McLaughlin being the sole builder in the United States. The main vendors in the United States for new boats are:

McLaughlin Simmons Boatworks KO Sailing Zim

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America?

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

The Optimist Class is active throughout the US.

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? No

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  1

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  75-110 lbs

Boat Designed in  1947

Length (feet/inches): 7’2″

Beam: 3’8″

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 77 lbs

Draft: 2’9″

Mast Height: 7’5″

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Category : Optimist (dinghy)

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Meet the Optimist Dinghy

December 4, 2013 by Sail1Design Editor Leave a Comment

by Airwaves writer Emma White

The optimist, originally designed by Clark Mills in 1947, became a registered One-Design boat in 1995; after a few modifications. It is roughly 8 feet long, precisely 3 feet and eight inches wide, and weighs approximately 77 pounds. Although, many describe this boat as a floating bathtub, it does not stop youth sailors from competing and having fun. Sailed internationally in more than 100 countries with approximately 200,000 sailors registered in optimists. Optimists are safe and are easy for kids to sail who want to hit the water and have some fun. Optimists are also sailed competitively. Whether it be state, national, or even international competitions, opti sailors enjoy the thrill of racing this boat. Sailors learn invaluable skills from high-level coaches, make life-long friends, and learn skills that increase independence through various clinics and regattas offered to them.

Optimist sailors range from the age of 10 to15 years old. They are eligible to compete in national and international events. These sailors represent the ‘red’, ‘white’, and ‘blue’ fleets. The divisions further separate the sailors by age. Sailors aged10 are placed into White fleet, followed by sailors aging between 11-12 wh o are in Blue fleet, and finally sailors aging between 13-15 who are in Red fleet. Although, the fleets divided the age group of 10-15, they all compete with one another on the starting line and in the race course. Results of regattas are delineated by “fleet” and the top female competitor is usually recognized. The use of fleets is just one way to identify each racer.  Racing is available to sailors younger than 10 years of age and this group of sailors is referred to as “green fleet”. National and local events are organized for these eager, opti-enthusiasts as well, allowing them to get a head start on opti competition before they join the older sailors.

A wide age range of opti sailors also translates into a broad weight range of the junior sailors. A study of the 2011 Optimist Worlds (a competition among the most skilled opti sailors in the world) which was held in New Zealand, pinpoints the range and average weight of the top ten optimist sailors of the regatta. The average size of the finishers were 110 pounds, with a range of 30 pounds. This means that optis are for sailors of all sizes, and it also means, contrary to popular belief, optimists are not boats that sailors outgrow at the age 13.

Many of opti sailors have aspirations of competing at the Olympic level. In fact, nearly 50 percent of the United States Sailing Team are previous opti sailors. Optimists are provide a strong sailing foundation, fun and they are competitive.

            Rigging Information:

–   One hull

$1 –   Fiberglass

–   One sail

$1 –   The sail is held up with a sprit and two battens

$1 –   Sail-ties connect the sail to the boom and mast

$1 –   To adjust sail shape, change the sprit, vang, and outhaul tension

–   Use a rudder and centerboard

Thank you to the following sources for making this article possible:

http://www.optiworld.org

https://sites.google.com/site/optiracingusscmc/faqs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimist_(dinghy )

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Understanding Club, Silver & BlackGold spars.

How to set up the standard Opti rig.

Detailed photos of rigged Optis.

The Optimist sailboat  is the designed for youth sailors and is the choice for introductory sailing experiences. West Coast Sailing has all the resources you need to rig, find replacement parts, and enjoy sailing your Opti.

Opti Line Lengths:

Upper Sprit Halyard 4 ft 4mm  Halyard   
Lower Sprit Halyard  4 ft  4mm  Halyard 
Mainsheet 24 ft 7mm Sheet 1 /
Outhaul  5 ft 4mm Control Line 1
Vang  3 ft 5mm Control Line 1
Boom Jaw Retainer  2 ft  3mm  Misc.
Bow Loop  1 ft 3mm Misc. 
Daggerboard Retainer  6 ft 3mm Misc.  1
Daggerboard Retainer Bungee 5 ft 5mm Misc.  1
Hiking Strap Tie  3 ft 5mm Misc. 
Hiking Strap Lift 2 ft 5mm Misc. 
Mast Tie-in  2 ft 3mm Misc.  1
Main Sheet Bridle  5 ft 3mm Misc. 
Main Sheet Bridle Safety 2 ft 3mm Misc. 
Bow Line  30 ft 6mm Misc.  1
Sail Ties  2 ft 3mm Misc.  12
Sail Ties - Corner  2 ft 3mm Misc.  12

About the Optimist:

The Optimist sailboat, affectionately known as the Opti, is a popular and iconic single-handed dinghy designed specifically for young sailors. Renowned for its simplicity, stability, and ease of use, the Optimist has become a staple in youth sailing programs worldwide. With a distinctive pram-like hull and a single, sprit-rigged sail, this small boat provides an excellent platform for beginners to learn the fundamentals of sailing. Its widespread use in sailing schools and junior regattas highlights its effectiveness in nurturing sailing skills and instilling confidence in young sailors, contributing to its status as one of the most widely sailed and recognizable boats in youth sailing.

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Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association

The International Optimist Dinghy

Designed in 1947 by Clarke Mills, Fla, the Optimist is a single-handed one-design dinghy which is ideal for children who are at first learning to sail, and in which they can then carry on to experience exhilarating racing at all levels, up to the World Championships. For fascinating information on the birth of the Optimist Dinghy, see the link below.

The best way to introduce kids to sailing is through the Optimist class. Optimist sailboats are designed especially for children, with a broad beam for exceptional safety and stability. The boats are simple to operate – just one sail, one line, and one centreboard. They’re also simple to transport – just strap it to the roof of your car or stow it in the back of a van or sport utility vehicle.

Sailed in over 100 countries by over 150,000 young people,  it is the only dinghy approved by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) exclusively for sailors under 16 years of age.

Optimist Class Specifications

Length: 2.3 m / 7′ 9″ Beam: 1.1.m / 3′ 8″ Draft: 2′ 9″ Sail area: 35 sq.ft Weight: 77 lbs / 35 kgs. (FRP hull) Hull: Wood or FRP Spars: Wood or aluminum Racing: crew 1 First built: 1947 Number built: 500,000 + worldwide

Designer Clark Mills 1947, modified by Axel Damgard 1954

More info on the origins of the design/class: http://www.balancedrig.com/landsendmarina/mills.html

2002 – Clarky Mills, the colorful boat designer who changed the boating world with his innovative Optimist pram, died Dec. 11 in Clearwater, FL, at the age of 86.

International Optimist Championship 1970 International Optimist Championship 1970 BarcelonaA lot has changed in 48 years Posted by Optiparts on Saturday, January 26, 2019
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The Optimist Dinghy – sailed by kids since 1947

OPTI

Rewind the clock back 66 years:

Beginings: In 1947, the Clearwater Florida version of the “Soapbox Derby” called the “Orange Crate Derby” was sponsored by the Clearwater Optimist Club . Optimist member, Major Clifford McKay promoted the idea, and it finally made some headway with other members. He contacted local boat builder, Clark Mills about the idea and asked Mills to design a small sailboat that could be made for under $50.

Design Phase: Mills started sketching and soon ran into a basic limitation. Plywood comes in eight foot sheets. So, he knew the boat had to be less than eight feet. Since it was hard to put a pointed bow in an eight foot boat, he designed it as a pram. Clark Mills noted that the size and shape of the world’s largest class was dictated by the dimensions of a sheet of plywood and by McKay’s $50 budget. Mills chose a sprit rig, to allow some shape in the poorly designed, often home-sewn sails of the era. Mills vividly recalls the very first Optimist hull. “It wasn’t pretty, because Major McKay wanted it fast, for the next Optimist Club meeting. I hammered it together in a day and a half with 10 penny galvanized nails, slapped on a coat of paint, and called her an ‘Optimist Pram.’ We rigged her up in the hotel lobby where the Optimist Club met.”

Birth of the IOD: The Optimist was mainly a Florida phenomenon until 1958, when Axel Damgaard, the captain of a Danish tall ship, visited the United States and was inspired by the design. With Mills’ permission, he took an Optimist back to Europe, modified it, and renamed it the International Optimist Dinghy. The IOD had a battened sail and much simplified running rigging. The new design spread quickly, first through Europe then all around the world.

The Decline of the Pram: The IOD collided with a large, established fleet of Optimist Prams in the U.S. As more and more IODs landed on the shores of the U.S., regattas were scheduled for both Prams and IODs. As late as 1985, separate regattas were held for both boats. Many sailors from the 1970s and 1980s owned two boats, to sail in both types of regattas. In the early 1980s, the scales were tipping in favor of the IOD. The number of Prams steadily declined and, by the mid 1980s, Pram racing opportunities had dried up.Today, Prams are occasionally found in learn-to-sail and community sailing programs but they are no longer an organized class and are virtually never raced.

Image shows the design changes from the 1947 Optimist to the modern IOD: For more history and images visit Wooden Optimist

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The originator of the design: Clark Mills recounts the story of the Optimist Pram in Clearwater, Florida:

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WindCheck Magazine

Optimist Buying Guide

By tom coleman.

The Optimist; at first glance a simple little kids boat…right? The  more you get to know this “simple” little kids’ boat, the more you realize it’s not so simple. But little Jimmy starts sailing class in a month and you’re told to provide a fully rigged Optimist for his use. Where do you start? What do you really need and what’s it all gonna cost? Tom “Optiguytom” Coleman, long associated with junior sailing, is considered internationally as an Optimist guru, especially when it comes to getting kids started in racing. In this article he helps parents get started into the world of the Optimist, unraveling the mysteries of understanding, choosing and purchasing an Optimist sailboat.

Optimist Basics

The Opti, or Optimist Dinghy, is relatively unchanged from the first prams designed and built by visionary Clark Mills in Clearwater, FL, 65 years ago. Testament to Mills’ genius, the Opti remains the largest and fastest growing sailboat class in the world, a phenomenon as THE definitive teaching boat for hundreds of thousands of children the world over.

The Opti is not for everyone. It was designed for children. Optis are sailed by kids as young as five* years old and can be officially raced by kids up to age fifteen. Although it’s possible for a parent to sail an Optimist alone or with a small child, realistically adult sized sailors just don’t fit well. That’s part of the magic behind why they work so perfectly for kids.

Mills originally designed the Opti to be garage-built out of $50 worth of materials… hence the “one sheet of plywood” nearly 4’x8’ size. Little did Clark know that one day two Optis could easily slide into the back of a Suburban or mini-van, or that Mom and a teen could lift it onto the car top, or that the spars (mast, boom, and sprit) could be shipped UPS or flown as baggage.

https://windcheckmagazine.com/app/uploads/2019/01/optimist_nomenclature-2.jpg

Why Buy Them Their Own Boat?

Many learn-to-sail programs provide Optis for participants, but some have gotten so popular that you will need to supply your own boat. Check with the program and solicit their recommendation on procuring a suitable Optimist. As a rule, Optis hold their value extremely well, making the overall investment quite reasonable. While a brand new, ready to race Optimist will start at less than $3,000, completely rigged Optis suitable for beginners can be had for less than $1,000. Another reason to buy your child their own Opti is the pride of ownership that comes from taking care of their own vessel. It’s a great way to build responsibility and help get them invested in this life-long activity.

What Will They Need to Start?

When we say Optimist, or Opti, we are talking about a complete, ready to sail package. Although there are many possible accessories and upgrades, this is what your child must have:

Hull  – it’s the shell or body of the boat, the vessel itself. The vast majority are built of fiberglass. It includes the deck which runs around the top edge and is for sitting on, not standing. The hull also includes the mast thwart, daggerboard trunk and midship frame. These are all permanently attached during manufacture. Every hull has important parts attached mechanically (with screws), or secured by other means. These include hiking straps, ratchet block, dagger board bungee, three flotation bags, mainsheet, mast step (should be adjustable), and bow line.

Blades  – sometimes called foils. They are the rudder (with tiller and extension) and the daggerboard.

Sail  – usually white, made of Dacron.

Rig  – often called spar set; these are the mast, boom, and sprit; the poles that support the sail. The rig includes the lines (ropes) and blocks (pulleys) that control the sail.

Accessories

Bailers  – need two in the boat at all times, flimsy plastic bottles don’t work and are NOT safe.

Blade Bag  – protects and stores the daggerboard and rudder, makes for easier carrying.

Life jacket  – must be USCG Approved and appropriate size.

Whistle  – secured to life jacket with a short lanyard.

Bow bumper  – protects not only your investment but those of others.

Dolly  – for dockside transport, launching, sometimes storage. Some programs require them.

Covers  – depending on how boat will be stored a top or bottom cover may be a good investment.

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Praddle  – one handed paddle. Regular canoe or telescopic paddles DO NOT WORK!

https://windcheckmagazine.com/app/uploads/2019/01/optimist_nomenclature_top_view-2.jpg

New, Used, Chartered?

New complete Opti packages start at around $2700 while used Optis range from $500 on up depending on age, condition, and accessories. A third option is called a “chartered” or “event” Optimist. Think of these as demos, typically used at a few regattas by good sailors. Often these come with brand new spars and sail, carry new boat warranties, and sell for $200 – 300 below retail.

Club, Intermediate, Advanced, Premium Racer?

Those are names of various Opti packages differentiated by the equipment each comes with. Beginning sailors should be most interested in the “Club” or “Club Racer” version. Besides being the most economical, it’s designed for their level; a little heavier duty with less parts to loose or break. The Intermediate will have some upgrades mainly of interest to racing. The Advanced (read more expensive), are aimed at delivering a product suited exclusively toward competitive sailing and bear no advantage to those starting out. It’s important to know that the hull is really the same in each package and can be upgraded as the sailor progresses with the purchase of different spars, blades, and sails.

Where to Buy

Local Sailing Programs

Check the bulletin boards at local yacht clubs and community sailing centers and you’re likely to find at least a couple of formerly sailed Optis available. Ask around, during weekend and after school Opti classes (yes, most have already started), and you may uncover some unadvertised bargains.

Friendly Neighborhood Dealer

Shopping new or used Optis at your local dealership is perhaps the easiest way to obtain the right boat for your child. Typical small boat sales staff, as a rule, are local sailors and have insight on the surrounding programs and what each expects. You’ll find them to be very knowledgeable, highly enthusiastic, but not pushy.

The best deals can be found at the many spring open houses, boat swaps, or Opti auctions. You’ll be able to compare $600 fixer-uppers and $1,000 bargains (privately owned, taken in on commission) to used, chartered and brand new Optis, all at one location. The dealer can fix you up with necessary accessories, including roof racks to transport the newest addition to your family.

Online shopping can produce some real bargains, but has its limitations. eBay and Craig’s List occasionally have listings, but the drawback of buying sight unseen or traveling a long distance to see only one boat may not prove prudent. A recent search produced only one Opti on ebay and five scattered from New Jersey to Rhode Island.

JSALIS.org has a page of used Optis and equipment for sale as does the Opti Class at usoda.org.

Yes, but is it “Class legal”?

Class legal means that the hull, spars, sail and blades (and some accessories) meet certain rigid requirements pertaining to materials, measurements and construction. These requirements keep the Optimist safe for your child while ensuring that every Opti is virtually the same and one doesn’t have a significant advantage over another on the race course. Your Opti may be class legal if it has a sticker with a unique ISAF number or if very old, an IYRU number. The best guarantee is if you have the measurement papers issued by USODA (United States Optimist Dinghy Association) that came with the boat.

…and is it Necessary?

It’s only necessary if those holding the race say it is. Within your program it shouldn’t matter and most green fleet regattas (for beginners) are only concerned that it is safe and a reasonable facsimile. As your child progresses and begins to do more racing (regionally, nationally and even internationally), having a class legal Optimist is an “Opti-must”.

* It’s generally agreed that most kids are not developmentally ready for formal sailing instruction until 8 years of age.

Tom “OPTIGUYTOM” Coleman has been associated with the Optimist Class as a coach and instructor trainer for over a decade. He was Marketing Manager for McLaughlin Boat Works for nearly fifteen years. In 2004 he was chosen by the US Olympic Committee as Developmental Coach of the Year for Sailing. You’ll find him running the Green Fleet at many top Optimist regattas.

You can reach Tom for clinics and regatta coaching at  Optiguytom@yahoo.com .

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The Optimist: the most popular children's dinghy in the World

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Welcome to IOCA UK, the class association for the Optimist dinghy which organises events and training throughout the UK.  Most of the world's best sailors started in the Optimist dinghy and went on through other classes all the way to the Olympics.

Whether you are interested in training, or racing at local or national events, or the chance to take part in european events, IOCA UK is here to help you get started and support you along the way.

Check our Racing and Training calendars to find all of our upcoming national and regional events.

The News section has details of previous events and a form to signup for class email announcements.

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The Optimist dinghy is the world’s most popular sailboat for children. North Sails offers multiple sail designs to match your sailor's weight and wind conditions. North has two styles of optimist sails. The Crossover Mainsail is an entry-level sail designed for beginners. This mainsail will carry beginners from their first days on the water through their first season of comeptitve racing.

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Class info TECHNICAL Class Rules

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  • Class Rules

The object of the class is to provide racing for young people at low cost. 

The Optimist is a One-Design Class Dinghy.  Except where the Class Rules specifically permit variations, boats shall be alike in hull form, constructions, weight & weight distribution, rigging spars and sail plan. 

For any interpretations of the Class Rules, please send your inquires to [email protected].

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2024 Class Rules

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2024 Class Rules Changes

Optimist class rules 2023 - amended 16/04/23, optimist class rules 2022, optimist class rules 2021, optimist class rules 2020, optimist class rules 2019, optimist class rules 2018.

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Optimist Sailboat Build

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Introduction: Optimist Sailboat Build

Optimist Sailboat Build

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The jig produced on the ShopBot retains the correct shape and supports the boat, while it is being built, to retain the exact design measurements.   The plans for the boat can be found from many sources for free on the internet.   Plans are available in many languages, as well.  One such source is http://www.optiworld.org/Woodguide05.pdf Another guide to building an optimist is http://www.burcotboats.co.uk/howToBuild.pdf , as well as half a dozen other well written articles on the internet.   But none provide CAD quality drawings or files to work with modern computer controlled machine tooling.   Well, here they are:  The jig as well as the major parts of the boat.     The jig sides , mast step, rudder, dagger board , dagger board case ends and doubler pieces are made from 18mm or 3/4" ACX or marine grade plywood; (1219.2mm x 2438.4mm) 48" x 96".    

Now to get started, the jig we have designed is the exact dimensions of a finished hull shape.   Both ends of the jig have interlocking pieces to allow for inserting and removing as needed during the building of the boat.   The cross members are standard 2" x 4" cut to 44" long and with a 3/4" dado 8" to each side of center to fit into the grooves of the forms.   These should be cut so as to be flush with the top of the form and screwed into place to prevent movement.   The bottom boards provide a stable platform for the jig to sit on.   The jig should be placed on a flat surface for the build, as distortion to the jig will transfer to the boat being built.    Save the scraps for blocking.

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  • EVENT SIGNUP
  • MY EVENTS

Opti Schedule and Sign Up List

You must be logged-in to:.

  • View the name of each sailor signed up for each event.
  • Sign up for event (simply click the event on the date in the calendar or click the Event Signup tab).

Cancellation policy

September 09 2024 Opti After School at RYC, RR 3:30-6:30, Coach Panic max signups: 10, cost: $TBD skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event)

September 11 2024 opti after school at ryc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), september 12 2024 opti after school practice at lyc r/r 3:30 to 6:30 pm- coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), september 14 2024 opti event closed to new signups practice day milford yacht club max signups: 31, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 5 days prior to this event), september 15 2024 opti event closed to new signups practice day milford yacht club max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 5 days prior to this event), september 16 2024 opti after school at ryc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), september 18 2024 opti after school at ryc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), september 19 2024 opti after school practice at lyc r/r 3:30-6:30 pm coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), september 20 2024 to september 22 2024 opti usoda accs (including 1 training day)seaside park yacht club, nj coach pepe and panic max signups: 34, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 45 days prior to this event), september 23 2024 opti after school at ryc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), september 25 2024 opti after school at ryc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), september 26 2024 opti after school practice at lyc r/r 3:30-6:30 - coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), september 28 2024 opti event closed to new signups practice day ct - ny max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 5 days prior to this event), september 29 2024 opti event closed to new signups practice day ct - ny max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 5 days prior to this event), september 30 2024 opti after school at ryc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), october 03 2024 opti after school lyc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), october 05 2024 opti event closed to new signups practice day ct - ny coach panic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 5 days prior to this event), october 06 2024 opti practice day ct - ny coach panic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 5 days prior to this event), october 10 2024 opti after school at lyc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), october 12 2024 to october 13 2024 opti ft lauderdale team racing regatta, fl, coach: pepe max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 45 days prior to this event), october 12 2024 opti practice day ryc - coach panic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 5 days prior to this event), october 13 2024 opti practice day - ryc - coach panic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 5 days prior to this event), october 17 2024 opti after school at lyc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), october 19 2024 opti event closed to new signups practice day - ryc - coach panic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 5 days prior to this event), october 20 2024 opti practice day - ryc - coach panic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 5 days prior to this event), october 24 2024 opti after school at lyc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), october 26 2024 to october 27 2024 opti new york state champs, oyster bay, ny, coach: panic max signups: 30, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 30 days prior to this event), october 31 2024 opti after school at lyc, rr 3:30-6:30, coach panic max signups: 10, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 15 days prior to this event), november 02 2024 opti training at ct/ny rr9:3010, coachpanic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 10 days prior to this event), november 03 2024 opti training at ct/ny rr9:3010, coachpanic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 10 days prior to this event), november 09 2024 opti training at ct/ny rr9:3010, coachpanic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 10 days prior to this event), november 10 2024 opti training at ct/ny rr9:3010, coachpanic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 10 days prior to this event), november 16 2024 opti training at ct/ny rr9:3010, coachpanic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 10 days prior to this event), november 17 2024 opti training at ct/ny rr9:3010, coachpanic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 10 days prior to this event), november 23 2024 opti training at ct/ny rr9:3010, coachpanic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 10 days prior to this event), november 24 2024 opti training at ct/ny rr9:3010, coachpanic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 10 days prior to this event), november 26 2024 opti midwinters championships training coach pepe and panic ncludes one day of training coaches pepe and panic max signups: 20, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 45 days prior to this event), november 27 2024 to november 30 2024 opti midwinters championships ( includes one day of training coaches pepe and panic max signups: 20, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 45 days prior to this event), december 20 2024 opti orange bowl clinic, miami, fl, coach panic and pepe max signups: 16, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 45 days prior to this event), december 21 2024 opti orange bowl clinic, miami, fl, coach panic and pepe max signups: 16, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 45 days prior to this event), december 22 2024 opti orange bowl clinic, miami, fl, coach panic and pepe max signups: 16, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 45 days prior to this event), december 23 2024 opti orange bowl clinic, miami, fl, coach panic and pepe max signups: 16, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 45 days prior to this event), december 24 2024 opti orange bowl clinic, miami, fl, coach panic and pepe max signups: 16, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 45 days prior to this event), december 26 2024 to december 30 2024 opti orange bowl regatta, coral reef yacht club, miami, fl, (including one practice day)coach pepe and panic max signups: 20, cost: $tbd skill level: all (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 45 days prior to this event).

    Beam:  4''
    Beam:  4'    Draft:  .5'
    Beam:  4'
    Beam:  4'
    Beam:  3.8'    Draft:  3'
    Beam:  3'8'    Draft:  1''
    Beam:  3'8'    Draft:  1'

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  3. Optimist

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  4. World’s fastest Optimist Sailboat to be Given Away for Free!

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  5. Optimist

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  6. Optimist Sails

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VIDEO

  1. Beach launching the Laser and Optimist fleet with a nice shore break and 20 knots

  2. Najib to Sabahans: Why choose sailboat when you have ship?

  3. Ask A Coach

  4. Opening To Scout & Friends: Spooky Halloween Adventure 2007 DVD

  5. Dozens of Optimist and Laser small sailboats in Thermaikos at the end of December

  6. What is the Best Training Boat?

COMMENTS

  1. Optimist (dinghy)

    Optimist (dinghy)

  2. Optimist International

    The use of Optimist International logos and trademarks may only be used for purposes approved by the Optimist International Board of Directors under official Board policy. Please review the "Use of Trademarks and Service Marks" policy by clicking here. Note: Low-resolution files are perfect for web or e-mail uses, particularly for newsletters ...

  3. Home

    All about the USODA, membership list, local results, events calendar, gear exchange, and who/what/where information.

  4. United States Optimist Dinghy Association

    About United States Optimist Dinghy Association. USODA is the national class organization for Optimist sailing in the United States. Our mission is simple: USODA will support and sustain junior sailors, their families, and junior sailing programs with leadership, information, and organization which facilitates the growth of Optimist sailing at all levels. We will accomplish this while ...

  5. OPTIMIST DINGHY (INT)

    Immensely popular youth trainer, designed for and built by a large number of home builders. The list shown here can only represent a small fraction of past and current professional builders. U.S. Optimist Dinghy Assn. P.O. Box 150127 222 E. Westmonte Dr. #101 Almonte Springs, FL 21401 407-774-7880 Fax: 407-774-6440

  6. Optimist

    Learn about the Optimist sailing class, its rules, and how to get involved in this popular youth sailing category on World Sailing's official website.

  7. Category:Optimist (dinghy)

    Optimist (dinghy) From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Language select: Deutsch: Die Optimisten-Jolle ist eine Einhand-Jolle für Kinder und junge Jugendliche. English: The Optimist is a small, single-crew sailing dinghy. Español: El Optimist es una embarcación a vela para niños diseñada en 1947.

  8. Meet the Optimist Dinghy

    The optimist, originally designed by Clark Mills in 1947, became a registered One-Design boat in 1995; after a few modifications. It is roughly 8 feet long, precisely 3 feet and eight inches wide, and weighs approximately 77 pounds. Although, many describe this boat as a floating bathtub, it does not stop youth sailors from competing and having ...

  9. Optimist Sailboat Resources

    The Optimist sailboat, affectionately known as the Opti, is a popular and iconic single-handed dinghy designed specifically for young sailors. Renowned for its simplicity, stability, and ease of use, the Optimist has become a staple in youth sailing programs worldwide. With a distinctive pram-like hull and a single, sprit-rigged sail, this ...

  10. History

    Sailed in over 100 countries by over 150,000 young people, it is the only dinghy approved by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) exclusively for sailors under 16 years of age. Optimist Class Specifications. Length: 2.3 m / 7′ 9″ Beam: 1.1.m / 3′ 8″ Draft: 2′ 9″ Sail area: 35 sq.ft Weight: 77 lbs / 35 kgs. (FRP hull) Hull ...

  11. Optimist Sailing

    Optimist Sailing. The Optimist (or "Opti" for short) is an International Class small, single-handed (solo crew) dinghy with a fiberglass hull, a rig consisting of a set of spars (a mast, boom, and sprit), and a set of blades (rudder and daggerboard). It is one of the most popular class of dinghies in the world, with over 150,000 registered ...

  12. The Optimist Dinghy

    The IOD collided with a large, established fleet of Optimist Prams in the U.S. As more and more IODs landed on the shores of the U.S., regattas were scheduled for both Prams and IODs. As late as 1985, separate regattas were held for both boats. Many sailors from the 1970s and 1980s owned two boats, to sail in both types of regattas.

  13. International Optimist Dinghy Association

    IODA Announces Hong Kong as the Venue for the 2024 Optimist Asian & Oceanian Championship. Read more Registrations Open for the 2024 Optimist European Team Racing Championship. Read more 2024 AGM - Proposals by Members ... Tekirdag Sailing Club Türkiye . Qingdao International Optimist Training Camp & Regatta 2024. Qingdao China, PR ...

  14. Optimist Buying Guide

    In this article he helps parents get started into the world of the Optimist, unraveling the mysteries of understanding, choosing and purchasing an Optimist sailboat. Optimist Basics. The Opti, or Optimist Dinghy, is relatively unchanged from the first prams designed and built by visionary Clark Mills in Clearwater, FL, 65 years ago.

  15. Optimist Logo PNG Vector (SVG) Free Download

    Information: The optimist is, quite simply, the boat in which the young people of the world learn to sail. Optimist logo png vector transparent. Download free Optimist vector logo and icons in PNG, SVG, AI, EPS, CDR formats.

  16. Optimist

    Optimist The Optimist is the most popular sailboat in the world. It is traditionally used as a trainer for sailors under 14 years of age who weigh less than 110 pounds. It is a single-handed boat with a rig that is 3.3 square meters. The origin of the unique hull design is due to the original version of the boat to be made as a home project.

  17. The Optimist: the most popular children's dinghy in the World

    Welcome to IOCA UK, the class association for the Optimist dinghy which organises events and training throughout the UK. Most of the world's best sailors started in the Optimist dinghy and went on through other classes all the way to the Olympics. Whether you are interested in training, or racing at local or national events, or the chance to ...

  18. Optimist Class

    The Optimist dinghy is the world's most popular sailboat for children. North Sails offers multiple sail designs to match your sailor's weight and wind conditions. North has two styles of optimist sails. The Crossover Mainsail is an entry-level sail designed for beginners. This mainsail will carry beginners from their first days on the water ...

  19. Class Rules

    Class Rules. The object of the class is to provide racing for young people at low cost. The Optimist is a One-Design Class Dinghy. Except where the Class Rules specifically permit variations, boats shall be alike in hull form, constructions, weight & weight distribution, rigging spars and sail plan. For any interpretations of the Class Rules ...

  20. Optimist Sailboat Build : 9 Steps (with Pictures)

    In 2011, the sailing program decided that the Optimist had a place in our sailing fleet to allow the younger kids (7-15) to rig, launch, sail and retrieve the boats themselves while under adult supervision. We set about looking at the building of wood/epoxy Optimist sailing boats. ... We choose to put our club logo and hull # on the sides of ...

  21. Optimist Boats for sale

    2014 Optimist 7 ft. The Optimist dinghy is the most popular type of racing sailboat for juniors up to 15 years of age. The Optimist has been designed to be safe, durable and competitive. The skills that the Optimist fosters can be directly translated into other classes later on.

  22. Opti calendar

    number of sailors signed up is: 6. November 17 2024 Opti Training at CT/NY RR9:3010, CoachPanic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level: all. (cancellation/late sign up deadline is 10 days prior to this event) number of sailors signed up is: 5. November 23 2024 Opti Training at CT/NY RR9:3010, CoachPanic max signups: 20, cost: $150 skill level ...

  23. Optimist sailboats for sale by owner.

    31' Mariner Ketch - Major Restoration & Repower - New Rigging & Sails Tenants Harbor Maine, Maine Asking $45,000

  24. Florida Spotlight: Five commitment predictions

    The South Florida running back has become a national recruit over the last year or so, earning offers from coast to coast and hitting the road aplenty in the process.