Supporting the Next Generation of Sailors – 15% OFF Gear for Scholastic Sailors !! Shop at West Coast Sailing and Zim Sailing for 15% OFF apparel and accessories for all scholastic sailors. Both companies are the proud official sponsors of college and high school sailing, and have a passion for providing for youth sailors. The … Read More
Supporting the Next Generation of Sailors – 15% OFF Gear for Scholastic Sailors !! Shop at West Coast Sailing and Zim Sailing for 15% OFF apparel and accessories for all scholastic sailors. Both companies are the proud official sponsors of college and high school sailing, and have a passion for providing for youth sailors. The … Read More
S1D SPONSOR NEWS After nearly two years of diligent, painstaking development, testing, re-designing and more testing, both here in the US and in Europe, North Sails is proud to launch the all-new V-Series Optimist sail. We have streamlined our range to three sail options, all following the design philosophy of the V-Series. This sail features a … Read More
News from S1D Team Member Predict Wind. I used their weather routing software this past summer and it was outstanding. Their spot-on weather forecasting/modeling makes Predict Wind an invaluable tool for one-design racers. The pro version of Predict Wind is a must-have, and a difference-maker! We have added another 3 high-resolution forecast models for limited … Read More
When you think about it, your Optimist sail has a really big job to do; it has to have a great shape in really light wind, when most sailors wish they wouldn’t run a race, and it has to also hold its shape all way to 20 knots +, when some other sailors wish they … Read More
By Airwaves writer Lucas Masiello Team racing adds an incredible amount of complexity to sailing tactics. While everything from fleet racing strategy applies to a team race, the tactics and what is important on the racecourse is very different. Because of this, as sailors, we need to augment our conversations from a fleet race mentality … Read More
By Airwaves writer Lucas Masiello As sailors, we participate in a sport that is uniquely dependent on the weather. Everything from wind shifts to puffs and lulls is all products of both large-scale and local meteorological factors. However, aside from offshore racers and elite level course racers, not too many sailors know what is going … Read More
The USODA Team Trials: When 4 days determine a year of preparation By Bernat Gali Bou, USNT Coach, Lakewood Yacht Club Head Opti Coach Let’s be honest…when does the Sailing Schedule ever give us a break throughout the year? Really, if a sailor doesn’t want to ever take a break from racing, he/she could be sailing … Read More
By Airwaves writer Bernat Gali I’ve recently come back from Pwllheli, Wales, after coaching one of the USA Summer International Teams which participated at the Volvo Gill Open Optimist British Nationals. This is so far my 4th International Regatta with Team USA, and considering I’ve barely been 3 years coaching in the US and just … Read More
This spring’s clinic was great! Despite cold temps, we saw a lot of improvement out there, and we hope that everyone learned at least one valuable thing. Our Optimist coaches Jordan, Sam & Maddie, former Opti stars themselves, were impressed with sailing, and appreciated the fact that we had a very attentive group. These 3 … Read More
A number of classes, including the Fireball and Flying Fifteen, have moved from 2:1 jib halyards to 1:1 systems. The reasoning behind this has been weight and windage, but it has doubled the load on the turning block in the mast. This also came at a time when the classes started using higher rig tensions, … Read More
By Airwaves Writer Paige Hoffman It’s safe to say that the most difficult aspect of spring sailing in the Northeast is facing the cold. Knowing how to keep yourself warm on frigid days makes all the difference in staying up to speed during practice and competition. Getting uncomfortably cold may seem like an inevitable part … Read More