Optimist

Design

Name

Optimist

Designer

Clark Mills

Designed / First built

1947

The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by children up to the age of 15. Nowadays boats are usually made of Fiberglass, although wooden boats are still built. It is one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, with over 150,000 boats officially registered with the class and many more built but never registered. The Optimist is recognized as an International Class by the International Sailing Federation.

Build / Config

Rig type

Sprit/Lug

Vessel type

Pram (Daggerboard)

Keel config

Daggerboard

Construction

GRP

Rating / Handicap

Portsmouth

1646

Number of crew

0 (typical)

Dimensions

Length (overall)

2.36m

Length (water)

2.18m

Beam

1.12m

Draught

0.97m

Draught (min)

0.1m

Mast

2.26m

Displacement

35.0 kg

Sails

Sail area (total)

3 m²

Main sail area

2.26 m²

Spinnaker area

0.0 m²