Optimist

Sail Information || Optimist News || Optimist Tuning Guide || Contact Optimist Experts || Order

2008 SCHOOL'S OUT REGATTA 1,2 HARKEN #2 1,2,4 WASHINGTON B- DAY REGATTA 1 VALENTINE'S DAY REGATTA 1 ORANGE BOWL - Blue Fleet 1 ORANGE BOWL - Green Fleet 1 2007 WORLDS - GIRLS 1 WORLDS - BOYS 1 ATLANTIC COASTS (ACCs) 1 BAHAMAS NATIONALS 1,2,4,7,9 USODA SOUTHEAST CHAMPS 2,3,4,5 PACIFIC COAST CHAMPS 1 SWEDISH NATIONALS 1 MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIP 1,2,3 DETROIT YC JUNIOR REGATTA (RED/BLUE) 1 2006 JUNIOR OLYMPIC FESTIVAL 1,2 WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP 1,2,3 ATLANTIC COAST CHAMPIONSHIP 2 RED,WHITE & BLUE CHIP REGATTA 1 PEGGY READ TROPHY 1 ILYA CHAMPS 1,2 US JR OLYMPIC REGATTA 1 US TEAM TRIALS 1,5 VALENTINES DAY - ST PETE 1,2,4 ORANGE BOWL 1 MIDWINTERS 1,2,5 2005 PACIFIC COAST CHAMPIONHSIP 1 MIDWEST CHAMPIONHSIP 1,2 LBSS REGATTA 1,2,3,4,5 LATITUDE TEXAS CIRCUIT REGATTA 1 2004 WORLDS 2,4     Ever since North Sails One Design started making sails our goal has been to make the fastest sails for any type of boat. The International Optimist Dinghy Class has always been one of our main focus points as these sailors are the one’s that we will be the future of our sport. The Optimist is the dinghy in which the young people of the world learn to sail. Sailed in over 110 countries by over 150,000 young people it is the only dinghy approved by the International Sailing Federation exclusively for sailors under 16 years of age. Over 50% of the dinghy skippers at the Sydney Olympics were former Optimist sailors. North Sails One Design has been working harder than ever for the past few years developing the fastest, state-of –the –art sails for the Optimist. Sailors all over the world are desperate for that extra knot of speed and to help achieve this North Sails has had a team working full time on research and development of easy to trim fast shapes for all size Optimist sailors.   "I recommend North Optimist sails to my whole team. Its the best out there! " Scott Lindley - Optimist Coach FL     NEW Ultimate Optimist Racing DVD More Info>>

2008 Optimist Designs Released! #1 2008 VALENTINE'S DAY Alejandro Ruiz-Ramon #1 2008 Valentine's Day Regatta #1 2007 WORLDS !!! (BOYS & GIRLS) "I chose North Sails because they are higher, faster, better!!!" Chris Steele 2007 Optimist World Champion #1 2008 ORANGE BOWL!!! Antoine Screve, #1 2008 Orange Bowl Photo Tim Wilkes Chris Steele , #1 2007 Worlds Alexandra Maloney, #1 2007 Worlds

As far as choosing a sail, our rule of thumb has always been to sail with the flattest sail possible without sacrificing your speed. If you can sail as fast with a flatter sail you will be able to point and sail higher. This is very key because the start and first tacks during the race are very important so and the ability to point high will really put you one step ahead. Please read below the descriptions and characteristics of our Optimist sail models.

If you have any technical questions or just want to discuss which sail might be best for you please feel free to call Brian Bissell at 410 280-3617 or e-mail him at BrianB@od.northsails.com and he will be more than happy to help you.

We look forward to helping you get the most speed and fun from your Optimist sailing. Let us know how we can be your personal sailmaker.

2008 RACING SAILS

NORTH RADIAL DESIGNS

H-08 RADIAL MAINSAIL (>95 lbs)

#1 2007 WORLDS ... #1 2008 ORANGE BOWL!
The sail that won the World Championship in both the boys’ and girls’ division. Main modification from the 2007 model was done to the shape of the leech.  There is a little less return in the bottom half of the sail making it easier to trim and harder to stall out. 

M-08 RADIAL MAINSAIL

Hot new design that fits perfectly between the H-08 and the L-08 for medium weight sailors.  This sail placed 9th overall at the Worlds this year and just won the ACCs!

L-08 RADIAL MAINSAIL (<75 lbs)

#1 2008 ORANGE BOWL GREEN FLEET!
This sail is our flattest radial design.  It is a little less powerful for the light weight sailors and for when it gets really windy.  The L-08 is a perfect sail to start learning the tricks of a radial cut sail.

NORTH X-CUT DESIGNS

Our current offering of cross-cut sails is based on hours of sail testing. We test many different designs and fabrics each year to determine which sails to offer for each weight range. Of course, we are never fully satisfied and we are always in the constant state of development and improvement.  As a North Sails customer, you can rest assured that you are buying a product of our scientific sailmaking.  Right now the Code X designed by North Sails UK has tested best for heavier sailors above 95 lbs.  The SW-2 and SW-1, designed by our loft in Argentina, have proven to be best for middle and light weight sailors.

X-CUT MAINSAIL (Code X) (>95 lbs)

XH-08:This sail is full and has a very active leach.  Of all three cross-cuts we offer, this sail is the most competitive. 

X-CUT MAINSAIL (SW-2)

XM-08: Very forgiving sail to trim, but their number one selling point is their durability. For beginner racers, durability is important because at this stage of their optimist career, it is rare that they will have a practice sail and a racing sail.  They usually need one sail that can be used as both.

X-CUT MAINSAIL (SW-1) (<75 lbs)

XL-08: Very forgiving sail to trim, but their number one selling point is their durability. For beginner racers, durability is important because at this stage of their optimist career, it is rare that they will have a practice sail and a racing sail.  They usually need one sail that can be used as both.

CLUB RACING / PRACTICE SAILS

Practice with the same shape you race with.

Our AP line of sail are built to be durable and long lasting and use the same shapes as our racing line. Proctect your valuable race sail by having an AP available for non regatta practices.

• AP-1 Main ( < 75 lbs)
• AP-2 Main ( 75-95 lbs)
• AP-3 Main ( >95 lbs)

For more information on Sabot sails, contact the North Optimist experts.