1. OPTIMIST RIGGING
WITH
JAMES HOPSON

2. MY BACKGROUND
Started racing optimists aged 8. Joined the Welsh National Sailing Squad aged 10, Optimist GBR Squad aged 11.
3rd Optimist UK nationals (junior fleet) 2001
After Oppies I sailed Toppers, Lasers, 29ers, Cherubs, Foiling Moths, various Yachts.
Having sailed in the majority of the GBR junior and youth squads, aged 18 I started coaching the North Wales Performance Squad. This was taking sailors from a good club standard of racing to international level racing.
March 2012, I arrived in Dubai and started working at DOSC.

3. OPTIMIST TUNING GUIDE BOAT SETUP MAST RAKE SAIL TIES Padded toe straps
Decent mainsheet (7/8mm) with ability to make 2:1
2 Bailers
Good non-slip
MAST RAKE
112 inches (284.5cm) is our starting point
Lighter sailors may go down as far as inches (278cm)
SAIL TIES
Mast sail ties : twice round mast 2mm rope
Boom sail ties : once round boom 2mm rope
Clew tie down : twice round boom 3mm rope
Tack boom tie : twice round boom 3mm rope
Tack mast tie : twice round mast 3mm rope
Mast head tie : twice round mast 3mm rope

4. OPTIMIST TUNING GUIDE SAIL TIES ON MAST SAIL TIES ON BOOM 2 Theories:
First: Straight
All sail ties 8mm off the mast – tighten as it gets windier
Second: Banana
Light + Strong winds
Top and Bottom sail ties 8mm off the mast
Middle sail ties 2mm off the mast
Medium wind
All sail ties 8mm off the mast
SAIL TIES ON BOOM
8mm off the boom in the middle
Getting tighter towards each end of the boom

5. OPTIMIST TUNING GUIDE LUFF TENSION BLACK BANDS SPRIT TENSION BOOM SPAN
Generally it should be slack with horizontal creases visable.
As the wind increases tighten the luff.
BLACK BANDS
The black band on the sail must be between the two bands on the mast
SPRIT TENSION
The sprit can be adjusted by the sailor on the water in accordance with the wind conditions. Pull on until the diagonal creases disappear.
BOOM SPAN
Set to 80mm

6. OPTIMIST TUNING GUIDE VANG OUTHAUL DAGGERBOARD
Should be just slack upwind in light/medium conditions
Tighter when windy.
Vang should be tight enough to hold the sail shape on the downwind leg.
Smaller sailors can use the vang to help depower the boat.
OUTHAUL
Oppy sails are flat so only have the outhaul tight when its very light winds or blowing a gale.
Most of the time you want a nice smooth curve.
DAGGERBOARD
Mark on your daggerboard the positions for beat/reach/run
Light sailors will find lifting the daggerboard up 6inches (15cm) in strong winds will help them control the boat and allow them to sail upwind more effectively.

7. TOOL KIT SAIL TIES ELASTIC TAPE MEASURE BUDGY BOUYANCY BAG
TRAILER PINS
SPANNERS
TWEEZERS
FIBRE GLASS REPAIR KIT
DUCT TAPE
ELECTRICAL TAPE
PLIERS
ROPES
WD40
RIVET GUN
DRILL

8. SPARES BOUYANCY BAG SAIL TIES SAIL TILLER EXTENSION
SPRIT LINE (HALYARD)
MAINSHEET
BLUEIES
BUDGY
MAST CLAMP
BAILERS