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Choosing your Opti sail

As far as choosing a sail, our rule of thumb has always been to sail with the flattest sail possible without sacrificing your speed. If you can sail as fast with a flatter sail you will be able to point and sail higher. This is very key because the start and first tacks during the race are very important so and the ability to point high will really put you one step ahead. Please read below the descriptions and characteristics of our Optimist sail models.

Radial vs. Cross-Cut

The cross-cuts are still the recommended sails for beginner racers. The radials hold their shape so well that unless the sailor has a good grasp on how the mainsheet controls the leach, he or she could actually go slower with a radial. The cross-cuts are much more forgiving since they tend to stretch in the breeze, bending the leach open.

2008 RACING SAILS

H-08 RADIAL MAINSAIL (>43kgs)

The sail that won the World Championship in both the boys’ and girls’ division. Main modification from the 2007 model was done to the shape of the leech. There is a little less return in the bottom half of the sail making it easier to trim and harder to stall out.

M-08 RADIAL MAINSAIL (34kgs-43kgs)

Hot new design that fits perfectly between the H-08 and the L-08 for medium weight sailors.  This sail placed 9th overall at the Worlds this year and just won the ACCs!

L-08 RADIAL MAINSAIL (<34kgs)

This sail is our flattest radial design.  It is a little less powerful for the light weight sailors and for when it gets really windy. The L-08 is a perfect sail to start learning the tricks of a radial cut sail.

2008 Club/ Beginner Training Sails

The Opti Club X-cut training sail is an ideal sail for kids learning in the Opti class.

For further information on the optimist sail designs; please contact class leader Julian Plante at North Sails.