|
|
|
|
| Biggest Speed Gains for Optimist Sailors | |
|
|
Sails: No question, you can't put your money in a better place than sails. When it comes to buying boat speed, this is where it's at. If you're at the top level, we recommend the Olimpic sail. No sail wins more races, 13 World Champions in 15 years can't be wrong. The Olimpic's speed comes from a softer cloth that tends to breath in the leach giving a more dynamic action and a more forgiving trim. |
|
|
If you're just moving up and looking for a big jump in speed but, you're not ready for the fragility and cost of a full on racing sail, the North AP is the way to go. Built of the same templates as North's proven racing sails, the AP is an "All Purpose" sail that takes the abuse of everyday sailing but, provides the advantages of a good racing sail: weight specific cuts, tapered battens, tell tales, numbers installed and a large window. Perfect for new racers who need a sail they can use everyday. |
|
|
Racing Spars: A sail is at it's best on a stiff set of spars. Black Gold Spars are made of 7085 series anodized aluminum, the stiffest available in Optimist spars. The key to understanding the importance of a good set of spars lies in the two basic truths: 1) Racing sails were designed to work on stiff spars, if you're using a softer spar, your racing sail can not be trimmed to it's design shape, 2) Every bit of bend and twist, from the spars, from the hull, from the blades, is lost energy. Don't burn off the wind's energy into spar bend, get the best spars and start sailing faster. |
|
|
New Rule Blades: Stiffer and stronger = Faster. These epoxy, glass and foam blades are the best on the market. If you're over 85 lbs. and still sailing with fiberglass blades, you might want to jump up the ultimate Optimist blades, the New Rule N1's. |