off topic - optimist sailing (xtreme)

Wow1

Reminds me of sailing El Toros, FJ's, Lido's and other dinghies in the Bay Area and Northern California for 33 years!

Adrenaline rush!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Joe,

I grew up sailing Lightnings in So Oregon, and when in SE Asia, have even brought them through surf lines for both launch and retrieval (be quick on pulling the rudder on the way in), but I have never seen anything like the kind of sailing these guys are doing... Amazing.

Steve
 
El, who grew up with Dyer dinks, racing on Long Island Sound, really related to these pics -- great photos of some fine adventures for youngsters. Thanks for sharing
 
I have a real soft spot in my heart for the Optimist (the boat that started more people sailing than any other boat made)... designed by Clark Mills, who also designed our SunCat catboat.

And speaking of our SunCat... last Saturday was the perfect sailing kinda day: mid 70s, wind 10-12, sunny, just down right gorgeous. We could have taken the SunCat out, but we chose Wild Blue. That seemed to be a defining point... when we got home, I decided to sell the SunCat; ran some ads on Monday, and we have a deposit on the way to us.

I'm really going to miss that great little sailboat, but it deserves to be with someone who will use her. The buyer has a couple kids, and it will be good for the kind of sailing they want to do. Cat's Pajamas will be going to a good home. Sigh.

Back on topic: there are Optimist fleets all over the country. We have frequently come across them in our travels... always fun to watch the kids (some very young) working on their skills.

Thanks for posting the link to those photos - a real treat!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
A few years ago we had the Opti national championship at Pensacola Yacht Club, and I was in charge of safety. We had 350 kids/boats. Had to account for every one at every instant...what a task. We had about 35 boats and crews to shephard them. Those kids are crazy--We had to herd them with inflatables to keep them from cutting across breaking reef areas. Even wanted to sail in 30 to 40 knot winds!

Some teams brought coaches, spare rigs, and parts. Others camped on the lawn in tents and repaired the damaged parts with JB weld and hair dryers.

Great programs. Thanks so much for posting those photos!

Incidently we spent several weeks in Brest France. Every single child in the school system has to learn to sail. They start in a a barge type, similar to a San Franscisco Bay Pelican--then to Opti's, Lassers, 420's and various sport boats. No wonder the French have so much sailing passion.

Long Beach CA, where I spent most of my life, had a wonderful Sabot program. The sabot is slightly larger than the Opti--and has a leeboard or a dagerboard (windward Sabot). The sabot is closer to an El Toro than a Opti. A new opti starts at about $3000 and goes up to about $6000 with custom sails, spars, boards, trailer, covers etc...
 
Back
Top