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…

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…

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…