Sailing is fun if you know how to steer the boat. Optimist-class boats are simple, safe and designed to introduce children to the world of navigation. The great advantage of this class is that it offers young people many opportunities to achieve very high standards. It is very popular and there are a lot of national teams that participate in the World Championship every year. Locally, there are plenty of nautical clubs that organize competitive regattas.
Steps
Step 1. Get all the necessary equipment (rudder, keel, sail, mast, boom, mainsail and so on)
Everything should be included in the boat. If you are buying a new boat, a good seller should include basic tools, such as ropes and pulleys, in the price. These are very expensive and difficult to assemble if you buy them separately. We recommend that you also buy a trailer trolley in addition to the boat. Optimists are much heavier than they seem at first glance; if you want to set sail from the beach and drag them across the sand, the friction will remove the gelcoat layer (the smooth finish on top of the fiberglass) and you will be much slower in the water.
Step 2. Set up the sail
The knots of the sail should be loosened enough that you can insert a finger between them and the boom (this way you are sure that you can move the sail over the boom without it getting stuck). The knots of the mast must be much tighter (so the edge of the sail remains adherent to the mast for its entire length). Insert the sail into the box (the metal support you find in front of the boat) before lifting the mainsail. Adjustments on the sail must be made by loosening or tightening the knots so that there are no visible creases. Usually when the wind is stronger, you have to tighten the bonds.
Step 3. Sail away
Slide the boat into the water and point it in the direction of the wind. When in port or aground, keep the rudder inside the hull. Insert the lower tip into its housing first (as it is longer) and make sure it fits snugly to prevent the rudder from coming out of the two trigger points. Insert the stem in its seat but don't push it all the way down yet. Once in the water, push the boat away from shore and jump inside the hull. The wind could come from the open sea, from the shore or across. For each possibility there are directions and points where the boat can race. There are areas where an Optimist can sail and others not. Find out at the local harbor master's office.
Step 4. Sit on the sleeper facing the bow (the narrow part of the boat)
The front foot must rest against the bulkhead (a separation structure in the middle of the hull).
Step 5. Grab the bar with your hand closest to the stern (rear) of the boat and hold it like a microphone
With the other hand, grab the main sail rope. Don't wrap it around your hand as you need to be able to quickly release it to stop. Pull the main line until the sail stops floating with the wind. Lower the keel completely when you are in deep enough water.
Step 6. Make sure the boat is always in the right wind
Never sail directly into the wind. If you pull the rudder towards you, the boat will point away from the wind, while if you push it the bow will turn in the direction of the wind (if you are sitting on the opposite side of the sail). When you are upwind, direct the sail so that the end of the boom is in the rear corner of the boat. When sailing downwind, let the sail be perpendicular to the sleeper. Always check the position of the sail in relation to the direction of the wind so you can understand if it is moving sideways to the boat and towards you. If the boom hits you, it will really hurt you!
Advice
- If you are an adult, there are many small boats that you can evaluate that offer you good maneuverability. One of the most popular is the Laser. It is necessary to weigh at least 55 kg to steer this type of boat. If you don't reach this weight, you can evaluate the Byte, smaller than the Laser and very popular in Canada.
- If you are a beginner, there are plastic Optimists that are slower but more resistant than fiberglass ones. You can do some research online about it.
- Optimists are intended for kids, not adults. The regattas are reserved for young people who are up to 15 years old. It is recommended to start at the age of 7-8.
- Buying a wind direction indicator to mount on the mast is a good idea. If you don't have it, check the flags of the moored boats to understand where the wind is blowing from. Moored boats only point in the direction of the wind if it is stronger than the current of the water.
Warnings
- Even if the sky is clear and the wind is light, always wear a life jacket.
- Sit on the opposite side of the canopy. The position in which the Optimist is fastest is when all four corners of the hull are in the water. If the wind is light, you may need to lean towards the sail to achieve this setup. This allows the boom to stay away from you in case the wind is not enough.
- Like all water sports, sailing can also become dangerous if the weather conditions are unfavorable. If you are caught in a storm, capsize (capsize) the boat immediately so that the mast is underwater and perpendicular to the bottom. Stay close to the boat. Don't set sail if you believe the wind conditions are too difficult for your skill level. However, you should gradually dare and challenge yourself with increasingly complicated situations to learn how to manage any eventuality and to improve.
- Make sure you have a stern rope with a knot at the end attached to the box. Do not run it through the drain hole located in the middle of the sleeper at the front of the boat. If you do this, the rope will gradually deteriorate and may break during towing. The broken end will violently snap back causing you a serious injury, especially to the eyes. It would also prevent you from quickly evacuating the boat in the event of a storm.
