The Optimist (Opti) As A Racing Boat:

A fully rigged Optimist Dinghy ready 

to hit the water for racing. This boat 

is from Multinational Boat Source; 

complete with FarEast Hull and 

Championship Foils, the sail is a 

UK Halsey MEGA II Full Race Sail 

and the Spars are Optipart's BlackGold.  

For its stability, safety, and simplicity the Optimist dinghy is an ideal sailing school boat. But it's also a great racing boat, offering multiple levels of competition for all ages, all the way up to the class maximum age of 15. There are over 400 Opti regattas in the North America each year. Dozens of clinics are held, including clinics for all, clinics for girls only, and clinics for instructors.

The boat's popularity is growing dramatically. U.S. class membership increased eight-fold in the six years post 1992 and continues to grow. With so many Optimist sailors and so many Optimist events, there's virtually no limit to the number of events a skipper can participate in. Nor are these events limited to younger sailors. At the 1998 USA Optimist Nationals in Marblehead, Massachusetts, 257 Opti sailors competed on the Championship course. Another 42 competed on the novice (green fleet) course. Of the 257 skippers on the championship course, 40% were 13,14, or 15 years old. Smart skippers know that the Optimist continues to provide them with excellent racing opportunities, all the way to age 15.  

But the older skippers don't take home all the silver. The Optimist class age groups divide the fleet into novice sailors, sailors 10 and under; sailors 11-12; and sailors 13-15. Awards are made in each of these categories, ensuring that the trophies are spread throughout the fleet.

Optimist dinghy skippers group up in anticipation of the start!

As skippers improve, they can advance from local regattas to national events, like the Nationals, the Midwinters, the Valentine's Day Regatta, and other national level competitions. Top skippers can then earn the opportunity to compete in international events. The Optimist Worlds’, Europeans’, and South American championships draw sailors from around the globe. Participation on these international teams is a level playing field, by regatta selection, and is not only a prestigious honor but a wonderfully enriching life experience.

Author: Unknown