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…

Downwind is a great time to make gains if you pay attention, take advantage of opportunities and manage your boat well. Here are ideas for sailing fast and winning downwind in 14-20 MPH winds provided by 2018 Australian & 2018…

Water under your boat can be fast. Water IN your boat is almost always slow. 2018 Australian & 2018 New Zealand Optimist Champion Fletcher Walters demonstrates his champion techniques for sailing and bailing in this video. Of course, practice is…

Jump start your opti sailing season with some top Optimist sailing tips from Olympians Sarah Ayton and Saskia Clark. In the nice video below, they gather top insights from young sailors. Here are a few of the items covered: Main…

Here’s a well-done video from the International Sailing Academy showing the importance of shooting up to maintain your gap on the starting line.  This video shows the technique in Lasers, but is applicable to other small  boats. Starting: Shooting Up…

Our SailZing “Sailing Fleets: Opti” Pinterest board showcases Opti (or Optimist) sites, photos, videos and tips.