"a bathtub that breeds the best sailors" (Observant Sailor at the Club Bar)

Specifications of the Optimist dinghy:

• 2.31m (7'6.1/2") long, 1.13m (3'8") wide. Weight 35kg (77lbs).
  Easily transported on top of any car, (where it will drip water over your shiny paint- work!).
• Safe and simple enough for an 8-year old
• Exciting and technical enough for a 15-year old
• Available in GRP, wood or wood/epoxy.

Sailed in over 110 countries by over 150,000 young people, it is the ONLY dinghy approved by the International Sailing Federation exclusively for sailors under 16 years of age.

• Over half of the dinghy skippers at the last Olympic games were former Optimist sailors.

• The boat was designed by Clarke Mills in Florida in 1947.
• Optimists first came to Europe in 1954 when a fleet started in Denmark.

Most parents find that sailing gives young people a great sense of personal achievement. In addition the skills required to improve sailing performance both on and off the water, it helps young people develop a more organised approach to other non-sailing related activities.

3. THE OPTIMIST IN IRELAND TODAY

• More than 1,100 Optimists have been registered in Ireland (2004).
• Superb one design racing where boys and girls can compete on equal terms. In the present ranking for 2004 the fleet is nearly 50:50 split between boys and girls in the top 20 sailors.

• Conor O’Brien (LDYC) is currently the national champion as well as being ranked no.1 in the 2003 championship series but he followed in the ranking by three girls: Katie Tingle (RCYC), Rachel Guy (LDYC) and Alyson Rumball (RSGYC).
• The fleet varied from 70 to 120 sailors at events in 2003.

• In the ISA Allianz Junior Helmsmans Championships 2003, most of the helms and crews were current or former optimist sailors.

• The first Optimists arrived in Ireland in 1966. The class in Ireland developed relatively slowly until 1978 when a batch of 35 GRP boats were imported and Ireland first sent a team to the World Championships. In 1981 Howth Yacht Club hosted the Worlds and boats sold off in Ireland after the event gave the class a big lift in this country.
• The growth in Ireland is explained by a number of factors including:

• simplicity of design
• the Optimist is recommended by the Irish Sailing Association for junior training
• a reasonable supply of new and second-hand boats

 

4. AT WHAT AGE SHOULD A CHILD START SAILING AN OPTIMIST?

The Optimist dinghy is

• Safe and simple enough for an 8-year old
• Exciting and technical enough for a 15-year old

Many clubs do not provide beginner training under 9 or 10 years of age. Check with your local club. See if any other experienced parent can suggest how a younger sailor might start.

There are plenty who start earlier and eleven or twelve is not too late - even to get to the top in the fleet.

Some considerations before beginning:

• Is your child a competent swimmer? (Competent means comfortable in the water when out of depth and capable of swimming say 25 meters in the sea water while dressed in normal clothing).

   

• Comfortable about the prospect of trying sailing? (The prospect of being alone in charge of a boat is often daunting to a young child and this introduction to the water is the most important step).
• Are there any older brothers or sisters in the family involved in sailing. This is often a great help.

  But surely they should not race at that age?
  It depends what you mean by racing.
  Kids probably start racing as soon as they can crawl! French coaches have the youngest pupils racing around by paddling even before they get a sail on the boat!
  The secret is to let the young sailor race to the level he/she really wants to (not the level you think he/she should want to).
  

  What is the maximum age to sail an Optimist?
  Sailors are permitted to enter the Optimist Worlds and other big regattas until the are 16, i.e. until and including the year in which they have their 15th birthday.
  But some sailors do get too big before then.

  When am I too big for the Optimist?

  A lot depends on local conditions, particularly during the summer holidays.
  If you sail in a place that never gets more than 8 knots in summer, you are going to have problems winning over 55 kg.

  As an active sports-person you are likely to be a bit lighter than the average "coach potato" but don't be tempted to diet without talking to a doctor. The unwise loss of weight may lead to loss of stamina.

  If you feel you are getting nowhere and there is a good alternative boat locally, try it. Plenty of older Optimist sailors "cross- train" - sail a more powerful boat as well as an Optimist.

   

  5. WHAT IS IODAI AND HOW CAN I JOIN?

  IODAI stands for International Optimist Dinghy Association in Ireland. This organisation represents the Optimist class in Ireland and internationally. IODAI is affiliated to the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) and The International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA).

  You download an application form from the "Information Pack" section of the  IODAI website www.iodai.com

  6. HOW AND WHERE CAN I RACE MY OPTIMIST?

  • The Optimist class events are organised by IODAI who run a series of events/training programmes all year round (often sailing in conditions that would scare the pants off ‘grown-up sailors) :
  • Club events/club racing - nearly all the major clubs in the country have fleets and some number more than 50
  • Local dinghy or junior regattas usually include racing for the Optimist class

     

  • Regatta Fleet Racing for beginners/unranked sailors - usually aged between 9 and 12 years of age. These events give the younger sailor the experience of doing circuit events without the pressures of racing way out to sea over long courses. Nearly 50 raced at the nationals.

     

  • IODAI events that are not part of the IODAI championship
  1. The Crosby Cup excludes Gold Fleet sailors and is widely regarded as a fun-event where younger and less experienced sailors develop confidence and racing experience.
  2. The Lyttle Traveller Trophy is an event that excludes squad members. It may be run alongside a regional event or independently depending on the calendar.
  3. The Gorman Trophy runs towards the end of the calendar and is open to all.
  4. The Vice- President’s Trophy is an inter-club Optimist team-racing event. The winning team may be nominated for the World Club Optimist Team Racing event.
  5. International squad trials for top 70 ranked sailors. The IODAI Team Trials are held at the beginning of the sailing season to determine the members of the European and World squads. These are regarded as the most intensive races in the calendar, surpassing even the Nationals in their level of tension.
  • The full circuit: regional and national events (i.e. Leinsters/ Munsters/ Ulsters/ Connaught/ Nationals) – Bronze, Silver and Gold fleets.
  • The IODAI Championships: out of a possible maximum of 36 races (regionals and Nationals together) during the season, there are a number discards to allow for missed events or other circumstances.
  • International competition – squads that represent Ireland at World and European championships.

    7. HOW CAN I JOIN A SAILING CLUB THAT SAILS OPTIMISTS?

    If you contact the Irish Sailing Association www.sailing.ie you can find out which sailing clubs are local to you. The junior or dinghy sailing coordinator in each club should be able to tell you if they have an active optimist class in that club. Your interest could be the spark that ignites an optimist interest there and IODAI will endeavor to support clubs who wish to start an Optimist fleet.

    Alternatively, if you contact the IODAI secretary directly, honsec@iodai.com you will be put in touch with an IODAI regional representative who will guide you towards a suitably active Optimist club.

    It is the intention of IODAI that every sailing club is contacted annually to determine their level of interest in the Optimist class and to maintain an open invitation for any sailing club to seek assistance in the forming of an Optimist class at that club.

    8. WHICH ARE THE MORE PROMINENT CLUBS RACING OPTIMISTS IN IRELAND?

    HYC Howth Co.Dublin www.hyc.ie

    KYC Kinsale Co.Cork www.kyc.ie

    LDYC Dromineer, Co.Tipperary www.ldyc.ie

    LRYC Athlone, Co.Westmeath www.lryc.ie

    MYC Malahide Co.Dublin www.myc.ie

    NYC Dun Laoghaire, Co.Dublin www.nyc.ie

    RCYC Crosshaven, Co.Cork www.royalcork.com

    RSGYC Dun Laoghaire, Co.Dublin www.rsgyc.ie

    SDC Sutton, Co.Dublin www.sdc.ie

    SSC Skerries, Co.Dublin www.iol.ie/~gerbyrne

    TBSC Fenit, Co.Kerry www.tbsc.ie

    WBTSC Wexford Co.Wexford www.whbtc.com

    WHSC Dunmore East, Co.Waterford www.whsc.org

     

    9. WHAT ARE THE TIPS FOR BUYING AN OPTIMIST?

    Optimists can be found available in GRP, wood or wood/epoxy.

    New Boats

    Most likely to be GRP and built to IODA 95 standard so that there is little (if any difference) between different brands. Some brands have a higher resale value due to a perceived better build quality.

    For diplomacy reasons, this information pack will not attempt to score one brand against another.

    Second-Hand Boats

    The best advice is to ask a parent who has a reasonably current technical knowledge of optimists to ‘survey’ the prospective secondhand boat for you.

    OPTIMIST PARTS CHECKLIST

    SPARS (Mast, Boom & Sprit): Spars should be aluminium.

    FOILS (Rudder, tiller, tiller extension, centre- board or dagger-board)

    SAIL (and sail-ties)

    MAINSHEET

    PAINTER (bowline)

    OTHER (Burgee, Sail ties, Bailers, Toe-straps)

    Accessories

    Remember that you will also needs some or all of the following accessories for the Optimist:

    Launching Trolley

    Broadly speaking these exist in three forms:

    • Collapsible aluminum trolley; (expensive, strong, easily dismantled and transported, best choice)
    • Plastic waste-pipe trolley (cheap & cheerful to construct, light, safe, but not easily dismantled, good alternative);
    • Galvanised steel trolley (too heavy, difficult to transport, eventually rust, avoid).

    Top and Bottom Covers

    • They are made of either PVC (strong & durable, but hold in moisture), Cotton (breathable dust covers, easily damaged) or Padded Canvas (strongest, best protection, some are waterproof).
    • The bottom cover protects the hull from minor scrapes and UV damage when stored in sunlight.
    • The top-cover is more useful during events and training as it allows the equipment to be stored inside the boat when not in use. This is not ideal as a long-term practice when it is better to turn the boat over and store the spars and foils in a warm, dry place.

    Foil Bag and Spar Bag

    These are useful accessories for protecting the equipment as more harm can occur when transporting than when sailing.

    Insurance

    It is necessary to insure your boat before you launch it for a club or IODAI event. You need third party cover as well as loss, theft, damage, etc.

    10. WHAT KIND OF OPTIMIST SHOULD I BUY AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

    Beginners:

    Before boat-handling skills are acquired, the new sailor is likely to have a number of mishaps. For this reason, it is probably best to have an older boat that will not complain when it gets knocked about.

    ‘Woodeners’

    There are still many wood and wood- epoxy boats available around the country. Contrary to rumour, these can still be ideal for a newcomer to the sport, especially for the first season for reasons mentioned already.

    The advantage is that they are cheap and easily repaired if damaged. The disadvantage is that unfortunately there is a ‘snob-value’ in favour of a fibre-glass boat. In the long run,

    Fibre-glass (GRP) Boats

    These divide into two categories.

    • Pre-IOD 95 GRP Boats

    IOD 95 is a specification that has been enforced since 1995 where all boats built to the specification are exactly the same (like in communism, some are more equal than others, I jest).

    Before 1995 the fibre-glass boats often had built-in buoyancy chambers on either side of the centre-board casing. These boats seldom appear in the more serious Optimist racing any more (though they are eligible if they have measurement papers). For beginners and improvers, these boats are ideal economical choices, if you can get one. If in sound condition, they are usually 50% dearer than a ‘woodener’ and about a third of the price of a new boat.

    • Post-IOD 95 Boats

    As mentioned above, these all began equal but depending on the treatment and care they received since new, their equality can vary greatly. The older boats, in sound condition, will be worth 50% of the price of a new boat. Newer ones will be on a sliding scale up to almost the new price.

     

    11. WHERE CAN I GET A BOAT?

    New Boats

    If you want a new boat then these can be bought from the builders, specialist importers or from sailing shops.

    Second-hand Boats

    These can be bought from various sources. Most sailors who spend a few years in Optimists will change boats a couple of times as they improve and can prove themselves better able to care for a newer boat.

    When selling, you can generally expect to get back what you paid for a second-hand optimist less 10 to 20% for wear and tear. This assumes that the boat is generally maintained complete and sound.

    Here are some suggestions when looking for a second-hand boat:

    • Try the IODAI ‘Buy and Sell’ section www.iodai.com
    • Ask other parents at your club if they know of any boats for sale.
    • Place a wanted ad on your local club notice-board or club web-site.
    • Ask your local junior or optimist coordinator about any boats that might be for sale.
    • Search the classifieds locally and nationally (e.g. ‘Buy & Sell’ magazine).

     

    12. HOW DO I GET A SAIL NUMBER FOR A NEW OPTIMIST?

    Allocation of sail numbers for Optimists is through the ISA.

    To register an Optimist, send your blue and white measurement booklet (which should have come with the boat) to the ISA offices, together with the €12 fee, and ensuring that you have completed the middle section by entering your child’s name and address. The ISA will complete the registration for you and send your booklet back to you by return of post. Optimists must be registered in order to race in any event, so please ensure you register the boat in good time.

    
    Irish Sailing Association
    3 Park Rd, Dun Laoghaire - Co.Dublin - Ireland
    Tel: 353 1 280 0239 - Fax: 353 1 280 7558 - Email: info@sailing.ie

     

    13. WHAT CAN I DO IF I DO NOT HAVE MEASUREMENT PAPERS FOR MY OPTIMIST?

    It is not uncommon for registration papers to be mislaid or lost. If your Optimist has been registered previously, IODA can supply a replacement hull measurement book for a GRP (fibreglass) Optimist once the hull number can be identified.

    Secretary: Robert Wilkes
    International Optimist Dinghy Association

    Balscadden View, Abbey St.
    Howth, Dublin, Ireland

    Fax: +353-1-839 4528
    e-mail:info@optiworld.org

    New GRP boats will come with the Hull Measurement papers from the manufacturer.

    All of the equipment must be independently measured (well in advance) before the boat can be used in competition.

    Measurement Papers	Hull replacement papers are available (at a small cost) from IODA. All other measurement forms will require re-measurement by an official measurer to ensure that they conform. This is a ‘must’ for a racing boat that will compete in IODAI main fleet events.
    Hull	Manufacturers log-book with official hull plate number matching.
    Spars	Mast, Boom, Sprit should each have a measurement form.
    Foils	Rudder & dagger-board should each have a measurement form.
    Sails	Detailed measurement form required for each sail before it be used in events.  If you do not know the sail number of the boat but have the hull number, contact the ISA to see if the boat has been registered before
    Official Measurers	IODAI have a limited number of official measurers. These people have been certified capable of measuring the Optimist and its component parts so that they comply with official IODA regulations. It takes several hours to measure all parts for a new boat and although the measurers usually provide this service free of charge, they are not required to do so. It is recommended that the owner make a contribution in kind for the time that a measurers gives. For a full list of current measurers, contact the IODAI secretary hon.sec@iodai.com
    IODA Measurement Forms for the Optimist	http:// www.optimistsailing.org.uk/new/ home.htm

     

     

    14. WHAT TRAINING IS AVAILABLE FOR OPTIMISTS?

    I.S.A. Training

    Most clubs affiliated to the Irish Sailing Association organise junior training during the summer months. The Optimist is one of the boats recommended by the I.S.A. Courses normally run in modules of 3 weeks and most children will pass Levels 1 and 2 (the basics of sailing) after one or two three week courses.

    Optimist Association (IODAI) Training

    While the I.S.A. sponsored courses do an excellent job in teaching the basics, children showing a real interest in sailing can benefit enormously from taking part in the training organised by the Irish Optimist Association.

    • Regional Training

    Winter training runs through the Winter months in a number of sailing clubs.

    It is, however, important to note that children wishing to get involved in these programmes must have adequate equipment (e.g. wet suit/ dry-suit head, gear, gloves etc).

    • National Training

    In addition to the regional training, the Optimist Association organises a number of National Training weekends throughout the Winter when sailors from all over the country come together for joint training at one venue in order to facilitate sailors from all over the country.

    • International

    Teams selected for World and European Championships train together prior to these events during the summer months.

    The Optimist Association arranges to send 25 ranked sailors to attend International training and a regatta in Braassemermeer, Holland over the Easter period. The Irish team link up with other countries for this training and then go to a major regatta with upwards of 400 competitors from all over Europe. This gives young sailors an excellent opportunity to experience top-flight racing in big fleets for the first time.

    Parents have to fund participation in the international events. The Association tries to keep costs as low as possible.

    Sailors are encouraged to participate in Championships outside Ireland and many compete in events in the UK and Europe.

     

    15. HOW CAN A SAILOR BE SELECTED FOR A NATIONAL TEAM?

    Trials

    The top 70 sailors are eligible to take part in the trials (usually held over two or three week-ends).  Only the top 60 sailors from the first weekend will compete over the second weekend.

    
    Squads

    Based on the Trials’ results, a squad is selected.

    The World squad is selected first.

    The top 5 sailors are chosen. So you could have both boys and girls in this team.

    The European championships have boys’ fleet and girls’ fleet.

    The team chosen depends on the gender of top sailors in the trials.

    The next top 5 boys and 3 girls or 5 girls and 3 boys are chosen for the European Team.

    So a boy or girl may be ranked 20th and still get on the European team.

    So far we have 13 sailors. To make up the squad, additional 2 boys or girls and 1 girl or boy is then chosen to make up a full squad of 16.

    All these sailors coach together up to date of departure (Worlds or Europeans).

    These sailors have all been chosen from the Trials and are ranked for the coming season.

    
    Ranking System

    Based on the Trials’ results, fleets are broken down as follows: -

    Gold - Top thirty sailors

    Silver - Next thirty sailors
    Bronze - Remaining sailors

    The bronze fleet does not have a ranking. One of the purposes of this arrangement is to cater for a situation where weather conditions for racing are marginal for the bronze fleet. The more able sailors in the gold and silver fleets may in certain situations be able to race with the bronze fleet remaining ashore in weather conditions which would prevent the entire fleet racing together.

    16. IS THERE ANY FUN ON THE OPTIMIST CIRCUIT?

    While the Optimist calendar is a full one and parents/sailors may find the implication of a serious Optimist programme just a little bit daunting - the truth is that most young children (and parents!) find the experience lots of fun. The combination of the training, regional events and regattas give young sailors lots of opportunity to make new friends from all over Ireland (and indeed abroad in the case of sailors attending international events). Lots of sailors make friendships on the Oppy circuit which endure well after the age limit has been passed.

    17. NEED MORE INFO?Contact a member of the IODAI Committee.