Hi,
I have an opportunity to buy an Optimist in good condition. I would like to use it to teach my five year old daughter to sail. Is there enough room in this boat for both of us? Could we also fit in another five year old? Is this a good trainer? Any advice would help, as I am not familiar with this boat.
Thank you,
John Ring
Optimist Class
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Kirby
Re: Optimist Class
John,Hi,
I have an opportunity to buy an Optimist in good condition. I would like to use it to teach my five year old daughter to sail. Is there enough room in this boat for both of us? Could we also fit in another five year old? Is this a good trainer? Any advice would help, as I am not familiar with this boat.
Thank you,
John Ring
The optimist is designed to teach youth the joy of sailing. Very stable and maneuverable. Easy to right when turned. It is intended for solo training, however many sailing schoools will put an experienced or more mature individual with a younger or less mature individual. In my opinion you will have no problem teaching your 5 year old to sail along with you in the optimist. And, as she grows and matures she will take over. My experience is that at about the 7-9 year old range is ready to single handle the optimist with a good understanding of the fundamental. But that doesn't mean a younger sailor can't do it. But in about the 3rd-5th grade range the child begins to have a greater wherewithall about them. Anyway, I hope this helps. If you have more questions please e-mail them. You also might want to check out the International Optimists homepage which has some great information. I think you too will have fun sailing the optimist!
Happy Sailing!
Kirby
thekirby5@aol.com
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Stu Timm
Re: Optimist Class
Hi John,
The Optimist is a great first boat for boys and girls in the approximate 50-80 pound crew-weight range. There are many local organizations that sponsor coaching and sailing events around this type of boat. Our local YMCA offers Saturday regattas and similar events. The parents love the little boats because thay can be easily put on top of a car with a roof rack.
The sail rig is a gaffed cat setup with a loose footed main. I believe there's a cunningham, topping lift, and even a boom vang, offering the skipper intelligent sail control options. It takes a little while to rig the vessel on the beach (where I we have them here on Long Island's North Shore).
The Optimist pram gives kids just the right amount of kick for the buck. Parents should be careful to shop around, because the boat has a high market value. The design is very old, and there are plently of class-legal older boats with inflatable floatation modules aboard for reasonable prices. The newer ones have molded-in positive floatation.
I have NEVER seen a parent and kid, let alone a third on these boats. I think the hull is only rated for two kids, 150 pound maximum, (someone out there may know specifically). I think the real joy of these boats is that they may be pint-sized to you, but they're America's Cup sloops to their very proud owners. I loved watching the kids rig their vessels on the beach before a race. The pride and joy as well as the anticipation was clearly evident, and a pleasure to witness.
I hope has been helpful to you, anything else, let me know!
Stu Timm
The Optimist is a great first boat for boys and girls in the approximate 50-80 pound crew-weight range. There are many local organizations that sponsor coaching and sailing events around this type of boat. Our local YMCA offers Saturday regattas and similar events. The parents love the little boats because thay can be easily put on top of a car with a roof rack.
The sail rig is a gaffed cat setup with a loose footed main. I believe there's a cunningham, topping lift, and even a boom vang, offering the skipper intelligent sail control options. It takes a little while to rig the vessel on the beach (where I we have them here on Long Island's North Shore).
The Optimist pram gives kids just the right amount of kick for the buck. Parents should be careful to shop around, because the boat has a high market value. The design is very old, and there are plently of class-legal older boats with inflatable floatation modules aboard for reasonable prices. The newer ones have molded-in positive floatation.
I have NEVER seen a parent and kid, let alone a third on these boats. I think the hull is only rated for two kids, 150 pound maximum, (someone out there may know specifically). I think the real joy of these boats is that they may be pint-sized to you, but they're America's Cup sloops to their very proud owners. I loved watching the kids rig their vessels on the beach before a race. The pride and joy as well as the anticipation was clearly evident, and a pleasure to witness.
I hope has been helpful to you, anything else, let me know!
Stu Timm
Hi,
I have an opportunity to buy an Optimist in good condition. I would like to use it to teach my five year old daughter to sail. Is there enough room in this boat for both of us? Could we also fit in another five year old? Is this a good trainer? Any advice would help, as I am not familiar with this boat.
Thank you,
John Ring
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Jim Shriner
Re: Optimist Class
John,
I run the junior racing program at our yacht club which includes a fleet of 26 Optis. I also have a 12 year old who has sailed and raced Optis for 4 years and I differ with the other posts on the suitability of the Opti for a 5 year old. First, you can't realistically fit in one, it is a one person (and a small person at that) boat. You would spend most of your time squirming around and falling over each other. You could fit two 5 year olds, but I think the boat is too advanced for that age. The Opti is very responsive and tender and can very quickly overwhelm the beginning skipper. We generally don't endorse the Opti until the jr. sailor is around 8 and only after they have had a couple of years in our beginning sailing program which use a big, old heavy boat (a Waterbug, we probably have the only surviving fleet in the world) that an instructor can be in and work on the fundimentals with the kids. To give you an idea of our progression, we move the sailors straight from the Opti to 420s once they outgrow the Opti. The Opti is a terrific boat once the kid has the weight and fundimentals to confidently sail it. We run races Saturday morning including a Green fleet for first year Opti sailors and the kids all have ball, I wish the Opti was around when I was their age.
Jim Shriner
jimshriner@ibm.net
I run the junior racing program at our yacht club which includes a fleet of 26 Optis. I also have a 12 year old who has sailed and raced Optis for 4 years and I differ with the other posts on the suitability of the Opti for a 5 year old. First, you can't realistically fit in one, it is a one person (and a small person at that) boat. You would spend most of your time squirming around and falling over each other. You could fit two 5 year olds, but I think the boat is too advanced for that age. The Opti is very responsive and tender and can very quickly overwhelm the beginning skipper. We generally don't endorse the Opti until the jr. sailor is around 8 and only after they have had a couple of years in our beginning sailing program which use a big, old heavy boat (a Waterbug, we probably have the only surviving fleet in the world) that an instructor can be in and work on the fundimentals with the kids. To give you an idea of our progression, we move the sailors straight from the Opti to 420s once they outgrow the Opti. The Opti is a terrific boat once the kid has the weight and fundimentals to confidently sail it. We run races Saturday morning including a Green fleet for first year Opti sailors and the kids all have ball, I wish the Opti was around when I was their age.
Jim Shriner
Hi,
I have an opportunity to buy an Optimist in good condition. I would like to use it to teach my five year old daughter to sail. Is there enough room in this boat for both of us? Could we also fit in another five year old? Is this a good trainer? Any advice would help, as I am not familiar with this boat.
Thank you,
John Ring
jimshriner@ibm.net
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John Ring
Thank you all!
I want to thank you all for the help. The depth, understanding, and concern shown is moving. Perhaps I should not be surprised. After all, sailing people are the best people.John,Hi,
I have an opportunity to buy an Optimist in good condition. I would like to use it to teach my five year old daughter to sail. Is there enough room in this boat for both of us? Could we also fit in another five year old? Is this a good trainer? Any advice would help, as I am not familiar with this boat.
Thank you,
John Ring
The optimist is designed to teach youth the joy of sailing. Very stable and maneuverable. Easy to right when turned. It is intended for solo training, however many sailing schoools will put an experienced or more mature individual with a younger or less mature individual. In my opinion you will have no problem teaching your 5 year old to sail along with you in the optimist. And, as she grows and matures she will take over. My experience is that at about the 7-9 year old range is ready to single handle the optimist with a good understanding of the fundamental. But that doesn't mean a younger sailor can't do it. But in about the 3rd-5th grade range the child begins to have a greater wherewithall about them. Anyway, I hope this helps. If you have more questions please e-mail them. You also might want to check out the International Optimists homepage which has some great information. I think you too will have fun sailing the optimist!
Happy Sailing!
Kirby
Sincerely,
John Ring
s/v Sovereign
CD-25
Boston.
Ringj@mediaone.net
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Stu Timm
You're welcome,,,
After all, sailing people are the best people.
Hi John,
You are very welcome. However I must inform you that besides sailing my little one-design about the bay, I also enjoy fishing with my friends on their POWER boats. Mind you they were excellent mariners with fine, seaworthy vessels. I think ALL mariners, (well, MOST of them - see exclusions below) are very nice people, whether they use iron sails or dacron. Just look at this website and see.
Exclusions:
1. teenage jet skiers
2. Joey Buttafucco look-alikes in 38 foot speedboats with boat names that sound like something out of an adult porno movie.
3. One design class racers crowded at the starting line and in the protest room.
Have a safe and happy summer!
Stu Timm
PS: There's an Optimist's web site at;
http://www.sailing.org/optiworld/
It's worth a peek!
stuart@arenvironetics.com
Hi John,
You are very welcome. However I must inform you that besides sailing my little one-design about the bay, I also enjoy fishing with my friends on their POWER boats. Mind you they were excellent mariners with fine, seaworthy vessels. I think ALL mariners, (well, MOST of them - see exclusions below) are very nice people, whether they use iron sails or dacron. Just look at this website and see.
Exclusions:
1. teenage jet skiers
2. Joey Buttafucco look-alikes in 38 foot speedboats with boat names that sound like something out of an adult porno movie.
3. One design class racers crowded at the starting line and in the protest room.
Have a safe and happy summer!
Stu Timm
PS: There's an Optimist's web site at;
http://www.sailing.org/optiworld/
It's worth a peek!
stuart@arenvironetics.com