The 'Optimist' is quite simply the dinghy in which the young people of the world learn to sail. 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 less than 16 years of age.
The “Opti” as the young sailors fondly call her is the greatest little boat in the world.
Sailing is a lifetime sport where those in the age group of 8 to 80 are practicing the same skills. One of the tasks of the Optimist Class is to provide the sailors of the future. Many will be content to sail at club or national level. But for those with the desire and talent, the Optimist is the introduction to the world of competitive international racing.
Optimists are the main training ground for future Olympic sailors. Over 60% start in the boat and over 40% of them are already international competitors by the age of 13-15. By December of the year in which they turn 15, Optimist racers are said to "age out"; that is, they become too old to continue racing.
The Optimist is the biggest and most competitive youth racing class in the world.
Specifications Under Current Rules:
Class Symbol
Crew One
LOA 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m)
LWL 7 ft (2.13 m)
Beam 3 ft 8 in (1.12 m)
Draft 5 in (0.13 m) /
2 ft 9 in (0.84 m)
Hull weight (with fittings) 77 lb (35 kg)
Mast height (above deck) 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m)
Mainsail area 35 ft2 (3.3 m2 )
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