The Optimist Dinghy (Opti)
The Optimist Dinghy is a small 7′ 9″ sailing craft for sailors age 8-12 and/or weighing less that 115 lbs. Sailors who are 115 lbs or more are eligible to register for the C420 class.
This season, we are happy to offer an additional Opti class called Opti Advanced Beginner. Please read below to determine what class fits your sailors’ needs.
Opti Beginner Class
This class is an introductory class for young new sailors. If your sailor is new to sailing, has completed one week in our beginner class at IJS or has limited experience at another club, we recommend they register for this class. Sailors sail in pairs and will learn to sail out and back with a partner in a wide open space with support from an instructor.
Opti Advanced Beginner
This class is for sailors who have successfully completed 2 sessions of Opti Beginner with IJS and can demonstrate the skills of the Opti Beginner curriculum with occasional support from an instructor.
Opti Intermediate Class
This class builds on the foundational skills learned in Opti Beginner and Opti Advanced Beginner, including tacking, jibing, and rigging. Once students demonstrate mastery in steering and sail control simultaneously, they may be offered the opportunity to sail alone. Usually, sailors can sail solo in the morning and with a partner in the afternoon. Placement in the intermediate opti class means your sailor is confident and possesses the skills to sail independently in the Opti Sailboat.
To read more about the instructional curriculum offered at IJS, click here.
Opti Race Team
Racing students will be introduced to variable sailing conditions and performance sailing skills. There will be a focus on using body weight to accelerate the boat. Racers will continue with more advanced instruction in racing rules, competitive starts, mark rounding, and fine-tuning of their boat.
Key skills learned in Opti or 420 Beginner:
- Environmental awareness of water and wind
- Safe dress for sailing as they observe wind, weather, water conditions, current and distance from shore.
- Safety both on-land and on the water – a number one priority at IJS
- Know your boat: Basic elements and parts of the boat including tiller, rudder, mainsheer, boom, mask, daggerboard and mainsail
- Points of Sail
- Rigging: Each student will learn to rig their boat (as a group) and review boat parts
- Basic Knot Tying
- Steering the boat behind a powerboat, both tiller and rudder steering
- Trimming the sails
- Getting Underway
Key skills learned in Advanced Beginner:
- Points of Sail
- Rigging
- Knot tying
- Tacking
- Gybing
- General control of boat in varying wind and water conditions.
The Club 420 Class Dinghy
The C420 is a two-person high performance dinghy at 13’9” with a centerboard, mainsail, jib, spinnaker, and trapeze. The 420 is for students who weigh more than 115 lbs. This requirement ensures the sailor can safely balance the larger boat. Sailors who weigh less than 115 lbs. should register for an Opti class.
420 Class
This class will be separated into sailors who are new to the 420 or new to sailing, and sailors who have mastered the basics of 420 sailing and are ready to improve their skills. Students in the beginner group will learn to both crew and skipper as well as rig and derig the club 420. These students will learn parts of the boat and learn basic on the water techniques. Those more advanced 420 sailors will focus on gaining confidence sailing upwind and downwind independently.
To read more about the instructional curriculum offered at IJS, click here.
420 Race Team
Racing students will be introduced to a variety of sailing conditions, as well as performance sailing skills. There will be a focus on using body weight to accelerate the boat. To better sail in strong wind, sailors will be taught how to use trapeze harnesses as a way to keep the boat flat. In order to have better downwind sailing performance students will learn to set, fly, and douse the spinnaker. Racers will continue with more advanced instruction in racing rules, competitive starts, mark rounding, and fine tuning of their boat.
Water Safety Boats
All on the water activities are patrolled by 5 safety boats operated by a US Sailing Certified Instructor and apprentices. These boats consist of a 17’ Bristol Skiff and a 14’ Maritime and three inflatable boats: 16′ Ribcraft, 16′ Zodiac, and 14′ Zodiac. The Ipswich Bay Harbormaster also patrols the area.
