About the Opti

The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by children up to the age of 15.  It is one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, with over 130,000 boats officially registered with the class and many more built but never registered.

While younger lighter sailors begin in Optimists, competitive sailors usually weigh between 30 and 60 kg. Optimists can be sailed comfortably by people from age 6 to 15. This wide range of weights which is not typical of most dinghies is made possible by different cuts of sail.

At the Beijing Olympics, 85% of medal winning skippers were former Optimist dinghy sailors

Due to its inherent stability, unstayed rig, robust construction and relatively small sail, the Optimist is often sailed in up to 30 knots.

Opti Racing at Shilshole

The Optimists race on Thursday evenings out of the Shilshole Bay Clubhouse.  Typically 4-6 races are completed each night.  

Club owned Opti’s are available for active Junior Program Camp participants with an instructor approval.