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…

The Winner’s Guide to Optimist Sailing, by Gary Jobson and Jay Kehoe is the most comprehensive Opti reference we’ve found. It’s geared for beginning to intermediate levels. It’s clearly written and is suitable for both sailors and parents. The authors…

How far down should you set your MC Scow boards for the full down position? We see a range of practices. Some boats show 2″ or more of board horn above the deck in all conditions. This reduces your pointing…

Want to help your young beginner opti sailor get started on the right foot? Get a copy of Kiwi Goes Sailing. Rob Coutts’ years as a professional sailing coach in New Zealand inspired this book. Rob saw the need for…

Sheeting the main hard enough on an MC Scow in breeze can be taxing, especially over a day with multiple races. A 5:1 mainsheet purchase makes this easier compared to the 4:1 purchase found on many MCs. It also gives…