Make Your Optimist Faster for Under $100

10 Ways to Make Your Optimist Faster for Less than $100
Price: $29.95 Quantity:	Main Sheet Block with Snap Shackle and Vectran Lanyard: Not only is this very cool but, it's fast too. First, the Harken Carbo block is very light, and we know light is fast but, it's especially important to have a light weight block on the run in light air. (to keep the boom from falling back when kiting) Furthermore, the lanyard saves you three times it's length in mainsheet, so that's also less weight. It also means less main sheet to pull in at the jibe mark and that makes for a faster rounding.
Price: $58.00 Quantity:	Carbon Fiber Tiller Extension: Weight out of the ends of the boat. Need I say more?
Price: $79.00 Quantity:	Fredricksen/Ronstan Ratchet Block: The ultimate dinghy block, no question about it. Milled aluminum sheave gives superior holding power. Especially important for smaller sailors in big breeze. The fact is, most Optimist sailors have a hard time getting enough sheet tension in heavy air, this block will make that a whole lot easier. There's no question that this block will make you sail faster in breeze.
Price: $41.00 Quantity:	Padded Hiking Straps: Comfy feet hike longer and harder, and that means speed. Let's face it, far too often "he who hikes the hardest" wins. You can't go fast if your boat isn't flat, and this will make that a little more comfortable. (if you can say that about hiking)
Price: $69.00 Size Quantity:	Hiking Boots: Ok, so this isn't exactly for the boat but, I consider the sailor the most important piece of sailing equipment. After all that preaching about the importance of hiking, it only makes sense to make it easier on the sailor's feet too. A good pair of boots is important for several reasons: 1) bleeding toes are slow, 2) bare feet have terrible grip on wet boats 3) It's important to have a stiff surface across the face of the boot to disperse the loads of hiking, and 4) a soft soled shoe gives the sailor a better feel for the boat. A good sailor feels the boat in his feet, his seat and the main sheet.
Price: $89.00 Quantity:	Custom SBW Sprit Halyard: For those who love cool custom stuff, we bring you the ultimate Optimist Sprit Halyard. The choice of all serious Optimist sailors, it features custom construction by Sturgis Boat Works, a 29 mm Harken Carbo Block for easier tensioning, and Optiparts Black Gold ball bearing hook-in block and 3 mm stainless steel wire. Only the best from the Youth and Performance Sailing Experts at SBW.
Heavy Air Main Sheet Price: $44.00 Quantity: Light Air Main Sheet Price: $37.95 Quantity:	Light Air and Heavy Air Mafioli Main Sheet: The right main sheet is key. It has to be light, low stretch and easy on the hands. It needs to flow easily through blocks and can't, absolutely can't, kink up. Mafioli Swiftcord fit's the bill perfectly. Nice and fuzzy when it breaks in, it makes working the sheet all day a joy. Loose on the braid, it flows easily and doesn't kink up when you're trying to ease out around the top mark. We at SBW can't stress enough the advantages of good line in a one design class. The simple fact is, line does make a clear difference. For our Optimist sailors we recommend 7mm for light air and 9 mm for heavy air.
Price: $93.00 Quantity:	Blade Bag: Expensive blades can be fast but, smooth fair blades are always fast. Regardless of whether you sail with big dollar epoxy blades or run of the mill club blades, keeping them in good condition is the key to speed. A padded blade bag makes that a lot easier and it makes carrying them around easier on you.
Price: $99.00 Quantity:	Hard Sided Spar and Sail Bag: Separate compartments for your sail and spars, the sail side protected by 4" PVC to prevent crushing. We can't say enough good things about this carrying case, you simply shouldn't buy a racing sail with out one of these, period. A new sail is only fast while it's in new condition, this case will go a long way toward extending the life of your sails.