The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy, designed in 1947 by American Clark Mills at the request of the Dinghy International Service Club. The Opti is intended for use by children up to the age of 15. Nowadays boats are usually made of Fiberglass, although wooden boats are still built.
It is one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, with over over 200,000 kids in over 100 countries sailing them. The Optimist is not only one of the biggest dinghy classes in the world, it is the fastest growing, and is the only dinghy recognized by the ISAF exclusively for kids under 16 years old. Former Optimist sailors accounted for over 50% of the dinghy skippers at the last Olympics.
Optimist Specifications:
LOA: 7’9 / 2.36m
LWL: 7’2 / 2.18m
Beam: 3’8 / 1.12m
Draft: 0’5 / 130mm
Keel: Daggerboard or Centerboard
Hull Weight: 77 lb / 35kg
INTERNATIONAL OPTIMIST DINGHY ASSOCIATION
Optimist Website
8 Deans Lane, Chesterton, Stoke-on-Trent,
Staffordshire ST5 6BU,
Great Britain