The Optimist was designed in 1947 by American Clark Mills at the request of the Clearwater Florida Optimist service club following a proposal by Major Clifford McKay to offer low-cost sailing for young people. The Optimist Club ran a soap box derby, but wanted more than a single-day event. Thus they were looking for a low-cost equivalent for sailing. He designed a simple pram that could be built from two 4′ x 8′ sheets of plywood, and donated the plan to the Optimists. The design was slightly modified and introduced to Europe by Axel Damgaard, and spread outwards across Europe from Scandinavia.
The design was standardised in 1960 and became a strict One-Design in 1995.
The Optimist is sailed in over 120 countries and it is one of only two yachts approved by the International Sailing Federation exclusively for sailors under 16.
The Club Marine Victorian Junior and Youth Championships is an annual event organised by Yachting Victoria that aims to increase participation in OTB classes. It was hosted by Mornington Yacht Club this year and was a fantastic event,
Video Producer: Harnett Media
Day 1 of the 2016 Chichester Harbour Race Week started in gorgeous British summer conditions hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club. Due to tides, racing started early at 10:00 with a pleasant twelve knot Easterly pushing the boats round the course. We speak to Chris Turner and Jono Loe about thei...
Hayling Island is coming down with a Feva!!! The RS Feva fleet is dominant out on the water with their fluorescent kites making them easily recognisable. Today we talk to a couple of young crews who have definitely caught the sailing bug. Terrific to see so many young people out on the water!
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Race Week continues on Chichester Harbour. A stiff south-easterly and sunny conditions meant Day 3 went smoothly. We spoke to members of the Fast Handicap Division made up of a variety of boats from lightweight International Canoes to classic Flying Fifteens. After racing the competitors enjoyed ...
After an hour's postponement this morning due to a lack of breeze, Day 4 of Chichester Harbour Race Week kicked off to a increasing south westerly. Taking a look at the spectrum of boats today demonstrating the diversity of sailors here at Hayling Island. From Optimists to RS Elites, it doesn't m...
Sore heads were met by grey skies on the final day of Chichester Harbour Race Week. After a 4-day streak of champagne sailing conditions, the tide turned at Hayling Island with nasty squalls rolling through causing the race committee to abandon racing. An early pack up and a crowded prize marking...
Day One of the 2016 IOCA UK Winter Championships saw almost 160 sailors take to the water at Datchet Water Sailing Club in light shifty conditions. The main fleet was split into two starts for each race. Racing was tight throughout the day with William Pank taking the lead with 2 bullets and a di...
Day Two of the 2016 IOCA UK Winters saw the breeze fill in, due to the Storm Angus passing through in the early morning. Racing was postponed for a short period but sailors soon took to the water as the wind started to ease. Race 1 saw William Pank get his third win of the series with Maria Athin...
New Zealand's largest and most exciting multi-class dinghy regatta hosted by the Torbay Sailing Club. In it's 15th year, the 2016 regatta was the biggest with 448 entries from an extensive array of junior and youth classes competing. Saturday turned out to be very light conditions but they manage...
New Zealand's largest and most exciting multi-class dinghy regatta hosted by the Torbay Sailing Club. In it's 15th year, the 2016 regatta was the biggest with 448 entries from an extensive array of junior and youth classes competing. Sunday gave the young sailors better racing conditions with Rus...
