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When you purchase sails, you're paying for 3 things, fabric, construction and name brand. Fabric is simply a matter of material cost. Fabric for racing sails is very specialized, very difficult to make and, thus very expensive. Fabric for club and practice sails is not as expensive so, they can be made more inexpensively. Construction is where the greatest cost enters. Club sails don't need to be cut and sewn perfectly and identically so, many are made in the far east, where labor is cheap. Racing sails, on the other hand, must have great care taken in each cut and each stitch, this of course, is more expensive. But it goes much deeper than that, racing sails don't just happen, they evolve. It takes any sailmaker years of sail development to reach the upper echelons of competitive sailing. Name brands in sails are important, they are insurance that you're getting the quality and performance you paid for. Buying a name brand means you can research who's winning at top levels and why. It means you can talk to coaches, sailors and parents, getting useful feedback on a known quantity. When you sail onto the race course, that's the kind of assurance you need to win.

What Kind of Sail Should I Buy?

First decide whether you need a Club sail, a Practice sail or a Racing sail. 

Club Sails:

A Club sail is built to stand up to the the rigors of training and the abuse of inexperienced sailors.  They are typically built out of inexpensive but tough 3.9 oz. sail cloth.  Low maintenance and longevity are the emphasis of Club sail design and construction.

Racing Sails:

Racing sails are built for speed, not longevity.  They're usually constructed of a lighter 2.9 oz. cloth.  Racing sail cloth is typically very high in resin, the resin stabilizes the cloth, which helps it to keep it's designed shape under load.  Furthermore, Racing sails are "weight specific", meaning that they come in different shapes that are each optimized for a specific sailor's size.  A heavy sailor gets a fuller, more powerful sail, a lighter sail will get a flatter sail and so on.  

Practice Sails:

Practice sails, or Intermediate as they are sometimes called, are a compromise between Club and Racing sails.  They have all the "trappings" of  a race sail, vision window, tell tales, tapered battens and a weight specific cut but, none of the drawbacks.  (short life, fragile cloth)  These sails are great way to combine longevity with good performance.  More importantly, if you've got a new sailor, the weight specific cut means that a 60 lbs. sailor will not be overpowered, and 120 lb. sailor will not be underpowered, they'll have a sail that's just right.  Having a sail that's just right is going to make learning to sail an easier more enjoyable experience.

So Which One Do I Need?

If you're just starting out, a Club sail will do just fine.  However, if you have any racing ambitions at all, you should seriously consider purchasing a Practice sail. It combines the durability of a Club sail with the shape of a Racing Sail, and at only a marginally higher price, plus it's going to make learning to sail easier.  If your sailor is "ready to race", a Practice sail is just right for those starter regattas and the Green Fleet.  Racing sails are fragile and don't last more than a season or two, so they should be reserved for sailors who are ready to get serious and ready to really take care of their equipment.  If you're looking for that last bit of speed to put you on the podium, there's no better placer to spend your money than on new Racing sail, no other piece or equipment will give you more speed per dollar. 

Some people ask us, "will a more expensive racing sail make up it's cost in longer life?" The answer is a resounding "NO!"  A poorly maintained racing sail will quickly become SLOWER than a Practice sail that's been maintained in the same way.

Which Racing Sail is Right for Me?

Here's advice from our resident coach, keep in mind that this is one coach's opinion. You may want to consult your coach and other Opti parents and sailors before making a making a final decision.

At the present time, Olimpic Sails are dominating the US Optimist circuit. There is no denying the potential speed of an Olimpic Sail in the hands of a capable sailor. Supported by Colie Sails, the US importer, you will find an Olimpic sail hanging on no less than 70% of all the Optimists at any major regatta. North and Toni Tio sails have, generally, been most successful with sailors in the lower weight ranges, winning many major regattas for skippers under 90 lbs. Finding the right sail is crucial for success on the race course and each manufacturer has it's own strengths. In terms of sail construction, here's what I think is happening:

North Sails is a world leader in one design sails, a sail making monster of the 1st degree. Their reputation for fast, quality sails is a given in the sailing world. In the past, their various Optimist sails have met with varying degrees of success, ranging from good to excellent. The North VA has not met with massive success in the US. This sail is best for sailors with superior trimming and helming skills.

Toni Tio has been, and I think shall remain, the benchmark for Optimist sails. This is a loft committed to supplying Optimist sailors with the fastest possible sails. Tio sails have proven themselves with wins at several World Championships, and have performed very well in the US as well, winning many major events. The sails are built from a low stretch Contender cloth, the shape has been refined over many, many years of world level competition. Like the North VA, the Tio is very fast in the hands of a skilled helmsman.

Olimipic Sails have come to dominate the national and world stage, with more than 14 World Titles and at least 5 or 6 consecutive National Titles.  Olimpic has pioneered a new approach to building Optimist sails. Where North and Tio have continued to use low stretch cloth, Olimpic has patented a cloth that does stretch slightly. The idea is that Optimist sailors aren't always going to anticipate a puff, ease an inch, hike, and trim an inch, then repeat the cycle 50 times on the beat. An Olimpic sail, in the same puff, stretches ever so slightly along the vertical axis, opening the leach, mimicking the act of easing and trimming. The active leach results in a sail that is easier to trim, and astonishingly fast.

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