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The first Opti on the first day
Thanks to Optisailor / OptiMom Susan Pulling Robinson we can see what the early days of the Opti, then Clearwater  Pram, were like. Susan races her Mclaughlin Optimist every Thursday in the very competitive Windlasses women's sailing club out of Dunedin, FL. She also has a 9 year old daughter who races the same boat in the Dunedin Youth Sailing Association.
In her words:
My maiden name was Susan Pulling. I
started sailing an Optimist pram in 1961 at the age of 6, in Clearwater, Florida. My first pram was a
club-owned original plywood model with a canvas sail. I eventually had a
beautiful mahogany pram with a dacron sail, which was big news in the
'60s. There were 50 kids in our pram fleet, and we raced every Sunday
afternoon on Clearwater bay. Clarkie Mills loved to come by to watch us
race, and we all thought he was terrific. My dad and Clarkie
became friends, and together they worked with a Naval Architect to tighten up
the tolerances of the pram class plans that Clarkie had created. They
especially tightened up how much 'rocker' the bottom could have. Then Dad
got a bunch of copies of the new one-design plans, and began mailing them all
over the world for $5 a copy. It was very exciting to hear him on the
phone with people in Africa who were starting up fleets!
Look for more history of the Optimist to come in future newsletters. |
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NEW REGATTA IN BERMUDA National Open Regatta
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Make charter reservations NOW at this LINK!
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Meet Dave Hein
Who's
that guy with the bazooka camera lens at all those Opti regattas this
year? That's Dave Hein, OptiDad, new USODA Board member, and
photographer extraordinaire!
Optisailing.com is his company based
in Cleveland, Ohio. As an entrepreneur, Dave has built several successful business ventures throughout his career. Today he spends his time investing in and advising early-stage technology companies to give them the best opportunity to grow rapidly and gain marketplace prominence.
As a photographer, Dave strives to capture emotion in his work. In the sailing world that sometimes means showing the beauty of the lines of yachts under way or navigating a race course. At other times it requires hands-on close-up shots that show the thrill, excitement and contemplation that are ever-present on a racing vessel. For Optimist sailors, the best shots are taken as close to the action as possible. Dave's recent project is a true labor of love. Visit his photo site and you can create an account and find all photos of your sailor by sail number. You can also vote on photos for possible insertion in the Opti CalendarNot only will you see amazing photos taken at all your favorite regattas this year, but dates of all confirmed USODA championships, JO Sailing Festivals etc.
He also does beautiful, very high quality photo books. One can be previewed and ordered from http://www.blurb.com/books/814851
Dave is committed to helping grow USODA by chairing the Membership Committee. If you'd like to lend a hand or have ideas on how we can increase membership contact Dave at dave@heincapital.com
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Optimist safety checklist for your next regatta
The safety of our young sailors at practice and regattas is of prime importance to us all. We are very blessed with competent, knowledgeable coaches at all our events. A healthy fleet of parent/spectator boats is always ready to spring into action when called upon. Where we are lacking is in a uniform set of safety measures that can be applied to all Optis and Opti sailors at any event, from GreenFleet to Championship Fleet, before they leave the dock. For several years we have used, modified, and adapted a Safety Checklist for use at all levels. The best way to administer it is for knowledgeable volunteers to check every boat. At Nationals we used this and made it "self certifying". Try it and your Opti regattas will be safer.Here is the link. SAFETY CHECKLIST If it doesn't go directly to the article scroll down to "Boat Speed" and it's at the top of the list. It's a Word doc so you can modify it as you wish. We welcome any feedback and suggestions. One final question.... is it really too much to ask our coaches and instructors to wear, "properly wear", a life jacket while molding the impressionable and "invincible" youngsters on our race teams, clinics and summer programs? Of course not, mostly we do ask that. Let's START enforcing it... and they should be US Coast Guard Approved! |
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Please rate and leave comments.
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Optimist Mast Step / Mast Collar Repair
and Maintenance 101
If there is a
heart to any sailboat it is without a doubt the mast step. This is no exception
with the Optimist. Because the boat does not have stays (wire rigging that
supports the mast), the mast step and deck collar come under tremendous forces.
Particular attention should be given to these areas before leaving the dock.
Get in the habit of inspecting the deck collar for stress. If cracks are present or the collar is loose
maintenance is in order. It is a good
idea to remove and thoroughly clean the mast "cup" at least once a year to
inspect the welds for tiny cracks.
Having a mast cup fail on the water is impossible to fix without a
replacement. Here are a few tips to help you with common repairs. READ ON
Did ya know? The mast collar is not round, but oval. That's so the mast can rake forward and aft, not sideways. The embossed Optiparts or Optimax logo should always be on the side (either side, just not front or back). Mounting it any other way will hurt performance.
Check yours!
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Saving Sailing
"an important read for anyone who really cares about sailing and family"
Participation in sailing is declining in
America, down more than 40% since 1997 and 70% since 1979. In this
wide-ranging book, researcher and avid sailor Nicholas Hayes explains
why.
The
book shows how pressures on free time have increased, and how, in
response, many Americans have turned to less rewarding forms of
spectator or highly structured activities and away from lifelong,
family-based, multi-generational recreation.
Saving Sailing
builds a case for choosing how to spend free time better, using it to
seek quality experiences with families and friends through lifelong
pastimes like sailing.
The
main challenge, he suggests, is to develop an active system of
mentoring, especially between generations. The book offers helpful
suggestions for how we might rethink our own priorities.
The
lessons are broader than sailing, with useful ideas for all parents,
for anyone seeking to strengthen the social fabric of American
communities, and for those involved in programming for youth and adult
activities.
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You can purchase from 
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Now FREESTUFF applies to chartered Optis!
...but it's first come, first served and the supply is limited.
CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO
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CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO Call now for Fall delivery 800-784-6478
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McLaughlin RIBs + HONDA Outboards = Value
CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO
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CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFO
There is simply no better boat than a RIB
(Rigid Bottom Inflatable), for families who want to get closer to the action of
the Opti scene. For watching, assisting (between races of course!), on the
water support, or just "messing about in boats", the RIB (aka - inflatable) is
indispensable. Safe, speedy, maneuverable, easy to trailer and easy to use, McLaughlin RIBs are very affordable and a great value! Call 800-784-6478 for more info
Order by October 31 for Spring delivery
(50% deposit required)
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Thanks for reading and have a nice day!
Stop by and see me at the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis. I'll be in the APS booth October 9 - 10.
Sincerely,
Tom Coleman
McLaughlin Boat Works
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