Optimist Sailing
Here’s some general information on Optimist Sailing. This is a must read before you buy your first boat!
- Have fun. Sailing is a sport for life. Make it fun. Join a club and make life long friends.
- Optimists cater for a wide range of sailor weights and ages. See below for more information on how this is possible.
- Do not believe that sailing gear does not matter. Good sailing gear helps the enjoyment of the sport. See below.
- If buying second hand, try to understand what the differences are between gear on boats and what you will need in the future, as some kids learn very quickly.
Have Fun
Kids just want to have fun. If they are enjoying it they seem to learn more and faster. When teaching sailing coaches often introduce games (at all levels) to help sailors practice techniques sometimes even without realising it.
Constant encouragement, taking interest in what your kids are learning and praise of what they are doing, goes a long way to helping them. For those that start at a young age (e.g. 8) may be almost half the age of other kids sailing at 15 years old which is an achievement itself.
How can Optimists cater for a wide range of weights and ages?
The Optimist was designed for small kids. It is small enough for kids to manouvre on the land and can be adapted (within the Class Rules) to cater for a wide range of Weights (25kg to 60kg).
It was purposefully designed so it would be full of water after a capsize, sinking lower in the water hence not blowing away from them as easily and allowing kids to get back in more easily (feeling secure again).
The rigs are changed on training boats and are more flexible and sails are flatter. They do not have battens, hence spill wind in gusts, allowing kids to train in windier weather. They also use softer/bendier rigs to assist the opening of the back edge of the sail (leech) making it easier for lighter sailors in windy conditions. Infact, the sprits and booms are smaller too, to assist with the depowering of the rigs.
Hence when using racing optimists, sails can be recut to add or decrease power. Most sailmakers make a range of FOUR cuts of sail, to suit the experience and weight of the sailors.
Rigs are generally stiffer for experienced sailors and bendier for lighter more inexperienced sailors.
When buying a boat it is advised to get a rig that suits the weight of your sailor. This will make it more enjoyable for your child sailing in windier conditions.
For the more advanced sailors, the centreboard can be made more flexible also helping lighter sailors sailing to windward.
Ask Neil at WetnWindy how we can help.
Does the gear you use matter?
As above you already can realise the rig including the sail and the foils make a difference. The rig and foils are what make a boat sail, with the help of the sailor hence an advantage to have the right gear!
What about the rest of the boat?
The shape of a sail is designed by the sailmaker to drive the boat forwards. The older the sail, the less the sail resembles the new shape and the less effective it is. I always recommend using a sail that is not at the end of its life when learning, as it makes it easier to learn. When racing it is essential to have a reasonably good sail. Sails are one of the running costs of owning a sailing boat, like tyres on a car.
The sailor has to move the sail with the mainsheet. For smaller kids it is advised to get a 4:1 mainsheet system which has less loading on it. The pulleys must run easily and the mainsheet be able to be gripped. (more information will be published later at CrazyCoach, until then ask Neil 021 724577).
All the cleats on the rig have to work to hold the vang and the sprit otherwise you cannot depower or power up your optimist. Good gear is key to enjoying the sport.
Are some boats better than others?
Some boats are more expensive than others when new. Some boats are built using better quality gelcoats, better fibreglass and built in factory conditions that control humidity. The attention to detail for example, where the gelcoat is appled is also a big factor to having a well built boat. If you want to look at a Winner boat compared to an Asian built Optimist just look at the back trailing edge of the Winner transom which gives better flow with the sharper exit. For all the differences just ask!
Sailing Gear!
Get good sailing gear with the correct fit! Starting with the buoyancy jacket which is specific for the size of the sailer and should fit well. A pocket is a good idea. Sailing kit does not have to be expensive as there is plenty of used kit for sale online.
The sailor must be warm in the cold weather and protected and not overheat in the hot weather. Modern technology has changed sailing gear over the last 40 years so kids can enjoy sailing all year if they have the right kit.
More information is being published at CRAZYCOACH and will be available soon! Until then ask Neil on 021 724577
How to buy a good used boat?
Get to know the differences between the top boats and the cheaper boats offered to sailors entering the sport. Learn about the different rigs, sails and manufacturers. Look at the extras been sold with a boat. The condition of the rig and foils is important. Look for corrosion on the spars and damage to any fibreglass on the hull and foils. Extras given with the boat such as covers, different sails and even a trailer can add up significantly if you have to purchase them new later. If you know someone ask. If not we can help advise.
Later I will be producing an article on buying an Optimist as part of CrazyCoach being launched soon.