Proven from Sydney Hobart to Tahiti Named Dimension-Polyant cloth Designed in Geelong, shipped worldwide Talk to a sailmaker
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Optimist

Optimist School (Colour)

dinghy

The same durable school-grade training mainsail, made in colour cloth so clubs can identify fleets, ability groups or hire boats at a glance.

LOA
2.3
M
YEAR DESIGNED
1947
DESIGNER
Clark Mills
One-Design Sails

Sails For This Class

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Technical Data

Specifications

LOA
2.3
M
Beam
1.13
M
Draft
0.84
M
Hull Weight
35
KG
Crew Min
1
Crew Max
1
Year Designed
1947
Mainsail Area
3.3
M²
Jib Area
0
M²
Spinnaker Area
0
M²
Class Profile

Class Facts & History

Category
Optimist
Type
dinghy
Designer
Clark Mills
Class Association
International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA)

History

Clark Mills designed the Optimist in 1947 for a junior sailing programme in Clearwater, Florida, built from two sheets of plywood so any family could afford one. The design was standardised in 1960, the class became strict one-design in 1995, and IODA now oversees a class sailed in more than 120 countries with well over 150,000 boats registered, more than any other sailing dinghy in the world.

Sailing Characteristics

Built on the same heavyweight, durable training cloth as our standard school sail, but supplied in colour rather than white, so instructors can tell classes, ability groups or hire fleets apart from the shore without checking sail numbers.

Racing Context

This is a school fleet sail, not a regatta sail. It suits clubs running multiple groups at once, where colour coding boats speeds up briefings, safety checks and getting sailors on the right boat.

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