Optimist - In Brief

MadforSailing takes a quick look at the Optimist, the ultimate junior trainer and racer

Designed to provide a first sailing and racing boat for children, thousands have been built and are sailed at clubs all over the UK. The unique spritsail rig and basic fittings make them equally popular as knock-about fun boats or racers.

The hull is a very basic hard chine design and many have been built by amateurs from plywood. They are now available in GRP foam sandwich construction with considerable debate over the most successful manufacturer at the top level of competition.

The class association is very active in the UK and world wide, with graded events available for all levels of the learning curve.

Photo by Steve Arkley

Builders

Winner Boats APS
Krogsbjergvej 8
DK5600 FAABORG
Denmark
Tel: +45 62 61 9336
Fax: +45 62 61 9333
email: winner.dk@vip.cybercity.dk

LDC Racing Sailboats
Trafalgar Close
Chandlers Ford
Eastleigh, Hants
SO52 4BW
Tel: 02380 274600
email: ldcsailboats@csi.com

John Noble
Dinghy Maintenance Services
4 Malwood Gardens
Totton
Southampton
Tel: 02380 865004

Bell Boats Ltd
Brundall, Norwich
Norfolk NR13 5PY
Tel: 01603 713109
Fax: 01603 714141