Opti Preparation and Tuning Clinic with Opti setup and rig tuning advice from Marek Valasek, sponsored by the ILYA.

Here’s a fun activity for newer Optimist sailors. Use the worksheet to match the parts of the boat to the arrows in the drawing. This is a matching exercise – the worksheet lists the parts. Download the worksheet and answer…

Want to make sure you have all the bases covered before going sailing in the Optimist dinghy? In this post we provide an updated Opti pre-race checklist. Getting ready to sail an Opti can seem complex, especially for new sailors…

If you want to maximize performance and minimize frustration, it pays to learn the best techniques to tie an Optimist sail. We pulled tips from manufacturer’s tuning guides, books, and online sources to make the process easier. We added performance…

Optimist Mast Rake and Downwind Heel This great article from Optimist Team Gnarly uses clear illustrations to explain balancing the helm of your Optimist for speed, by adjusting the mast rake and angle of heel downwind. Team Gnarly is now…

There are lots of Optimist tuning guides available.  We’ve put together a collection of the most informative guides from major sailmakers and boat manufacturers. Optimist Tuning Guides North Sails Quantum Sails UK Sails Ullman Sails Olimpic Sails McLaughlin Boat Works…