Notes on rigging of Optimists - the Aberdeen Boat Club

Paddle or preferably a Praddle. The 

latter allows one handed paddling. Must 

be tied on, but still able to be used on 

both sides of the Opi. 

Burgee Clipped to the top of the mast. 

Most people can’t sail without one. 

Mast tie down 

A rope is recommended. If using a peg 

system then ensure it works. If the mast 

comes out of the mast step during a 

capsize then it could rip out the mast 

thwart (1) when the boat is righted. 

Painter 

One floating painter 9m long for 

towing. 

It should be securely tied to the mast 

thwart or mast step (2). This painter 

should have a loop in the rope 

approximately 60 cm (2 feet) forward of 

the mast. 

9 i j k 

Buoyancy tanks 

Need buoyancy bags or equivalent 

inside and means of draining 

Daggerboard 

Shockcord for normal sailing. 

Retention line: to stop daggerboard 

falling out when capsized, but it must be 

quick release to enable a fast tow to be 

secured or removal by someone outside 

the boat. 

Boom to mainsheet connection 

Boom strop should be of kevlar or 

dynema rope and very tight. The 

maximum gap, ie at mainsheet position, 

should be less than 100mm. Add a 

separate loop around both the strop and 

boom at the mainsheet position: this 

stops a head filling the hole and helps 

control the gap. 

Mainsheet 

A lockable snap shackle is to be used to 

secure the mainsheet to the boom. 

These are useful for towing, lee shore 

landings and general on-shore use. It 

must be a piston type snap shackle - a 

spring loaded jaw type is not allowed 

because these have snapped on to 

buoyancy aids when the child has 

capsized. Very dangerous! 

<strong>Notes</strong> on rigging of Optimists 

Bailer Large capacity. Tied on with a 

2-3m rope to enable it to be used whilst 

sailing. 

1 

2 

3 

Toe straps 

Use shockcord to keep 

the toe straps tensioned 

and clear of the 

bottom. This makes 

them easier to get feet 

underneath. It also 

means they give so 

you don’t trip over 

them so easily. 

Buoyancy bags 

Need 3 straps to secure 

them properly. Straps 

should be secured to 

bottom of hull, not to the 

gunwale (3). This keeps 

the bags lower down and 

makes them more effective 

Make sure the bags are 

fully inflated. 

Watch out for mice eating 

buoyancy bags if your Opi 

is stored upside down. 

4 

Clew outhaul 

Don’t fit outhaul 

cleats where they 

can hit a head. 

Rudder 

Needs retaining clip to 

stop rudder falling off 

when capsized and 

lifting off when sailing 

or grounding. 

Pintles (4): the lower 

one should be longer and 

locate in the gudeon (4) 

(hole) 1cm or so before 

the top one. This makes 

it a lot easier to fit the 

rudder. 

Date 14/11/03 Page 1 File Rignotes.doc

Knots 

All sail ties Reef knots 

End of all ropes Figure of eight 

Thin to thick rope Sheetbend (single or double) 


Shockcord to shockcord Sheetbend (pulled very tight) or fishermans bend 

Shockcord to rope Double sheetbend with loop in shockcord 

Painter to boat Bowline, do not put a figure of eight in the free end, make sure the end is well sealed by burning. 

Mast securing rope reef knot, it must allow the mast to rotate and also tight enough to restrain the mast. 

Knots in sprit rope Consider whipped eyes to reduce bulk, otherwise use bowlines 

All permanent knots Use bowlines or sheetbends (single or double). Never use reef knots. 

Ropes 

These must be thick enough to jam correctly in the cleats. For clam cleats; 8 plait or 3 strand works well. For V cleats; only 

use 3 strand. 

Main sheet Usually 8mm 8 plait with a soft covering. 

Boom strop 4/5 mm kevlar or dynema, this must be tight with no stretch. Wire is not recommended as it won’t give if it 

hits your child when gybing, or starts fraying. 

Sprit control 5/6 mm kevlar or dynema, wire can be used for part attached to the sprit 

Setting up the sail for average conditions. 

Attach all sail ties. Adjust top diagonal tie so that the top mast tie runs normal to the mast (not at an angle). 

Put the mast in and attach the boom and kicking strap. 

Put the sprit in but don’t tighten yet 

Put the boom height control rope on and adjust until the luff is just tight. 

Adjust the kicking strap by just removing the slack, do not over tighten. 

Adjust sprit: tighten until a diagonal crease appears in the sail. Pull in the sail and the crease should just about disappear. 

Other points 

If you are worried about a sore head from boom contact, then you can fit pipe lagging to the boom. 

See the IOCA log book for more details of terminology. 

General 

If in doubt please ask, but please note that the instructors may be busy with organising rescue boats, children, activities (or 

their own children). So you will have to try and catch them at a slack time or ask someone else. 

Please note that Optimist sail adjustment is an art form, most other dinghies are a doddle in comparison, so you won’t be the 

only one having problems. 

It is a good idea to look carefully at several other good boats (usually ones in the racing fleet) and ask experienced parents 

before making any changes. 

Join IOCA, to get the IOCA log book and a magazine. The club uses the IOCA scheme, not the RYA scheme which is slightly 

different 

Books Beginners - Sailing for Kids by Gary and Steve Kibble, Fernhurst Press (was The Prudential book of Sailing, A 

Guide for Young People.) 

More advanced - Optimist Racing by Phil Slater, Fernhurst Press 

Date 14/11/03 Page 2 File Rignotes.doc

Rigging 


These notes are for beginners and intermediates, racing setup is different. 

The five corner ties take a lot of load and must be of good quality rope. Failure of these ties may result in a torn sail. 

For all these main ties use 2 turns of 2mm dynema. Using 2 turns gives better control of the tightness at each of these ties. The 

other mast ties should be just tight, with a slight gap between sail and mast. The boom ties should allow a slight gap between 

sail and boom. 

throat 

luff 

tack 

The two tack ties, ie bottom corner of the 

sail to the mast and bottom corner of the 

sail to the boom must be tight. 

The top tie needs to be tight. 

The top diagonal tie must be 

adjusted such that the top tie 

will not jump off the top of the 

mast and so that the black sail 

mark is between the 2 mast 

black bands. 

Black bands, see top diagonal 

tie. 

Sprit control rope. Tight 

enough to put a diagonal crease 

in the sail which disappears 

when the sail is pulled in fully. 

Sail ties. Just tight on the mast, 

slightly loose on the boom. 

Boom height adjusting rope. 

This is used to stop the 

outboard end of the boom 

lifting in strong winds when 

sailing downwind and also 

controls tension in the luff. 

Kicking strap or boom vang. 

Don’t overtighten 

There should be a clew tie which must be 

tight. The clew tie is in addition to the 

clew outhaul. The clew tie helps to give 

extra head clearance under the boom, as 

well as leech control 

Boom strop. This is used to stop the 

boom bending too much in strong winds 

to control tension in the leech. 

Note: The maximum gap must be less 

than 100mm (4”). Fit a second loop at the 

block position to control this. 

Date 14/11/03 Page 3 File Rignotes.doc 

foot 

clew 

Piston Snap shackle to allow quick 

release of sail from mainsheet. 

leech

Notes on rigging of Optimists - the Aberdeen Boat Club

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