OPTIMIST RIGGING WITH JAMES HOPSON MY BACKGROUND Started

OPTIMIST RIGGING WITH JAMES HOPSON

MY BACKGROUND Started racing optimists aged 8. Joined the Welsh National Sailing Squad aged 10, Optimist GBR Squad aged 11. 3 rd Optimist UK nationals (junior fleet) 2001 After Oppies I sailed Toppers, Lasers, 29 ers, 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.

OPTIMIST TUNING GUIDE BOAT SETUP Padded toe straps Decent mainsheet (7/8 mm) with ability to make 2: 1 2 Bailers Good non-slip MAST RAKE 112 inches (284. 5 cm) is our starting point Lighter sailors may go down as far as 109. 5 inches (278 cm) SAIL TIES Mast sail ties : twice round mast 2 mm rope Boom sail ties : once round boom 2 mm rope Clew tie down : twice round boom 3 mm rope Tack boom tie : twice round boom 3 mm rope Tack mast tie : twice round mast 3 mm rope Mast head tie : twice round mast 3 mm rope

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

OPTIMIST TUNING GUIDE LUFF TENSION 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 80 mm

OPTIMIST TUNING GUIDE VANG 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 6 inches (15 cm) in strong winds will help them control the boat and allow them to sail upwind more effectively.

TOOL KIT • • • • SAIL TIES ELASTIC TAPE MEASURE BUDGY BOUYANCY BAG TRAILER PINS SPANNERS TWEEZERS FIBRE GLASS REPAIR KIT DUCT TAPE ELECTRICAL TAPE PLIERS ROPES WD 40 RIVET GUN DRILL

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