Opti Beginner:
The goal of the optimist beginner class is to introduce the sailors to sailing in a fun, safe, and thorough manner. It is not important or expected to have any previous sailing experience.
1. Wind Direction:
Explain how to find the wind direction using at least three different
ways
Trim for different points of sail and wind conditions
Basic boat handling skills such as: handling a mainsheet and tiller
together, landing at a dock, getting out of irons, sailing in a
straight line, tacking and jibing
Explain and demonstrate the points of sail and sail trim:
Upwind
Downwind
Reaching
Explain and demonstrate a capsize and recovery
Safety position
4. Rules:
Explain the basic Right of Way rules: avoid collisions, starboard/port
5. General:
Sails in and out of harbor through channel
Lands on a dock or mooring
Demonstrate an understanding of nomenclature such as up, down, irons,
starboard, port, tack, jibe, hike
Opti Intermediate:
The goal of the Opti Intermediate class is to reinforce the basic skills first introduced in the beginner class, while expanding sailors' knowledge and ability as they are exposed to more in-depth topics.
1. Wind Direction:
Constant awareness of wind direction and strength
Able to see wind on the water
2. Rigging:
Rig and de-rig an Optimist Independently
Higher standard of boat care and equipment storage
Parts of the boat and sail emphasizing concepts of powering and
de-powering
3. Boat Handling:
Trim for different points of sail and wind conditions
Awareness of weight placement in different wind and wave conditions
Use of the tiller extension
4. Tacking:
Tacks upwind staying on breeze
5. Jibing:
Jibes safely in breeze (S-jibe, sheeting in to control jibe)
6. Rules:
Explain the basic Right of Way rules: avoiding collisions,
starboard/port, windward/leeward
7. Maintenance:
Can make minor repairs (replacing ties or ring dings)
Reports damage
8. General:
Sails in and out of harbor in channel
Lands on dock or mooring
Demonstrates an understanding of nomenclature such as head up, head
down, irons, port, starboard, windward, leeward, hike, trim
Opti Expedition:
The purpose of this non-competitive class is to continue to encourage the love of sailing while reviewing and polishing the skills of the sailors. Emphasis will be on seamanship, navigation, and the understanding of a sailor's natural environment.
1. Wind Direction:
Constant awareness of wind direction and strength
Understanding of sea breeze and basic weather patterns
2. Rigging:
Expert knowledge of the parts of the boat
Storage of boats is kept to the highest standard
Rigs according to wind and wave conditions
3. Boat Handling:
Changes in weight placement for different wind and wave conditions
steers through waves
steers with weight
tacks upwind staying on breeze
controlled jibes o power and de-power boat depending on wind condition
4. Learn Basic Navigation:
how to read a chart
compass and applications
plot a simple course
5. Seamanship:
basic emergency procedure
docking
knots
coiling a rope and throwing towline
coming along side another boat
basic understanding of weather patterns and climate
6. Maintenance:
can make minor repairs
reports damage
Introduction to Opti Race:
Sailors in the introductory to race course will learn basic racing techniques and tactics while emphasizing boat handling. This is a prerequisite to the race team.
1. Wind Direction:
Constant awareness of wind direction and strength
Able to see and navigate around lulls and puffs
Learn about wind/weather patterns
2. Rigging:
boat and sail set up using a racing sail (for different conditions)
sail controls (how to prepare for different wind)
daggerboard adjustment
3. Boat Handling:
Trim for different points of sail and wind conditions
Awareness of weight placement in different wind and wave conditions
Tacks upwind staying on breeze
Jibes safely in breeze (S-jibe, sheeting in to control jibe)
4. Rules/sailing tactics:
Knowledge and demonstration of basic racing rules
Starting sequence/ starting strategies
General courses
5. Maintenance:
Can make minor repairs (replacing ties or ring dings)
Reports damage
Opti Racing:
The optimist race team at Sandy Bay Yacht Club aims to continue to improve sailing skills while learning proper techniques and skills to use while racing. The class will focus on boat handling, racing rules, tactics and strategy. Sailors are encouraged to participate in local and travel regattas throughout the summer.
1. Demonstrate Basic Rigging Techniques:
boat and sail set up (for different conditions)
sail controls (how to prepare for different wind)
daggerboard adjustment
2. Improve boat-handling Skills:
proper sail trim
body positioning
tacking and gibing techniques
ability to increase or decrease speed by altering sail trim (or by
changing boat set-up)
3. Know the basic Racing Rules:
Fair sailing o Accepting penalties
Boats on opposite tacks o Boats on same tack
Boats changing tacks o Protests
4. Demonstrate Tactics and Strategies:
Starting: positioning on the line, starboard/port approach, one minute rule
Upwind sailing: clean air, blanketing and covering, windshifts
Downwind sailing: rhumb-line, high or low course, attacks and defenses, windshifts
Sailing in clean air (learn to sail your own race!)
Mark Roundings
Current
Shifts
Finishing
420 Beginner:
This class is for older beginners (new to sailing) and sailors new to the 420. This is a first year 420 class. The purpose of this class to provide older students the chance to learn in a double- handed boat. Sailors will gain experience as boat a skipper and a crew.
1. Wind Direction:
Explain and understand how to read the wind on the water (at least 3
ways to tell where the wind is all the time)
Ability to see and adjust to puffs and lulls
2. Rigging:
Ties all important knots (half-hitch, bowline, square, figure eight,
clove hitch, etc.)
Rigs and De-rigs boat completely without assistance
3. Boat Handling:
Trim for different points of sail and wind conditions
Basic boat handling skills such as: handling a mainsheet and tiller together, landing at a dock, getting out of irons, sailing in a straight line, tacking and jibing
Explain and demonstrate the points of sail and sail trim:
Upwind
Downwind
Reaching
Explain and demonstrate a capsize and recovery
Safety position
Capsize recovery
Learns the basics of spinnaker setup/trim
Learns to use trapeze harness
Skipper/Crew Communication
4. General:
Sails in and out of harbor
Lands on a dock or mooring
Know basic sailing right of way rules: starboard/port, windward/leeward,
clear ahead/clear astern, tacking or jibing too close
Understands basic weather and its effects on the sailing conditions
5. Maintenance:
Can make minor repairs
Report damage
420 Introduction to Race:
The purpose of this class is to prepare the more advanced 420 sailor for the race team. Sailors in the introductory to race course will learn basic racing techniques and tactics while emphasizing boat handling. This is a prerequisite to the race team.
1. Wind Direction:
Constant awareness of wind direction and strength
Able to see and navigate around lulls and puffs
Learn about wind/weather patterns
2. Rigging:
boat and sail set up (for different conditions)
sail controls (how to prepare for different wind)
rigging tension o centerboard adjustment
3. Boat Handling:
Trim for different points of sail and wind conditions
Awareness of weight placement in different wind and wave conditions
Skipper/crew communication
Experience both as a skipper and a crew o Spinnaker
Using a trapeze harness effectively
4. Rules/sailing tactics:
Knowledge and demonstration of basic racing rules
Starting sequence
o Starting strategies
General courses/ types of courses
Mark roundings
5. Maintenance:
Can make minor repairs (replacing ties or ring dings)
Reports damage
420 Adventure Sail:
The purpose of this class is to improve sailors' skills in the 420 in a non-competitive and adventurous atmosphere. Sailors will continue to learn 420 boat-handling, including how to sail with a spinnaker, basic navigation, and most importantly seamanship.
1. Wind Direction:
Constant awareness of wind direction and strength
Understanding of sea breeze and basic weather patterns
2. Rigging:
Racing rigging—purchase systems, mast tune, etc
Boat rigged for different wind condition
Storage of boats is kept at the highest standard!
Exposure to sailing boats other than the 420
3. Boat Handling:
Constant changes in weight placement for different wind and wave
conditions
Sails without rudder
Steers with weight as much as possible, using rudder very little
Tacks upwind staying on breeze, using weight to facilitate tacks
Skipper and crew movements synchronized
Jibes safely in breeze (S-jibe, sheeting in to control jibe)
4. Sail Trim:
Uses sail controls to gain desired sail shape
De-powers and powers-up when appropriate
5. Learn Basic Navigation:
how to read a chart o compass and applications
plot a simple course
6. Seamanship:
basic emergency procedure
docking
knots
coiling a rope and throwing towline
coming along side another boat
7. Maintenance:
Can make minor repairs
Reports damage
420 Race Team:
The goal of the 420 race team is for sailors to continue to improve and perfect skills while learning various strategies and techniques. Sailors will practice advanced tactics. Sailors are encouraged to participate in local and regional regattas.
1. Demonstrate Basic Rigging Techniques:
boat and sail set up
sail controls (how to prepare for different wind/conditions)
centerboard adjustment
2. Improve boat-handling Skills:
proper sail trim o body positioning
tacking and gibing techniques
ability to increase or decrease speed by altering sail trim
keeps boat flat upwind and reaching/ heels to windward downwind
able to properly and effectively use the trapeze harness
able to set and sail with spinnaker o skipper/crew communication
perfects spinnaker skills
3. Understands the race course:
Types of courses
o Starting sequence/Starting techniques
Mark Roundings/Different legs
4. Know the basic Racing Rules:
Fair sailing
Accepting penalties
Boats on opposite tacks
Boats on same tack
Boats changing tacks
Protests
5. Demonstrate Tactics and Strategies:
Starting: positioning on the line, starboard/port approach, one minute rule
Upwind sailing: clean air, blanketing and covering, windshifts
o Downwind sailing: clean air, rhumbline, high or low course, attacks and defense, windshifts
