Rigging the Optimist

1Prepare the hull & your gear

• Wear a life jacket and appropriate clothes (shoes with grip, sun protection in summer, a warm layer in cooler weather).
• Remove the drain plug and let any water drain out, then replace the drain plug.
• Make sure the buoyancy bags are inflated and firmly tied in place.
• Lay the daggerboard within reach, ready to drop into its case on the water.
• Coil the painter and place it in the boat, or tie it to the bow fitting.

2Step the mast

The Optimist mast is short and stepped in the bow. Most club boats use a single-piece mast with the sail already in its sleeve — a fully-battened sail for the Optimist uses full-length battens that must be slid into the pockets before the mast is stepped. Club fleets usually keep it simpler. If the sail is not on the mast yet:

1. Lay the mast on the ground.
2. Slide the luff sleeve (the long pocket along the front edge of the sail) over the mast so the black band markings sit at the right height.
3. Stand the mast up and place its foot into the mast step at the bow.
4. Secure the mast with the fitting provided so it cannot jump out when you tack (usually a strap or the sleeve itself held by the tack corner).
5. Clip the gooseneck onto the mast with the boom pointing toward the stern.

3Attach the sail corners & controls

1. Tack (front bottom corner): slide the downhaul through its head or hole at the tack and pull the luff reasonably tight, tying with a bowline or the club’s favourite knot.
2. Clew (rear bottom corner): attach the outhaul through the clew cringle and along the boom, pulling until the foot of the sail is snug, not wrinkled.
3. Re-check the sail numbers and the boom height (about waist- to chest-height at the gooseneck on the mast).

4Fit the rudder & tiller

1. Float or hold the hull bow-up or slightly tilted so you can reach the gudgeons on the stern.
2. Slide the rudder’s pintles down into the gudgeons until the blade hangs freely.
3. Tie the rudder safety line (crash strap) to the boat so it doesn’t float away if you capsize.
4. Clip the tiller extension to the tiller.

5Fit the daggerboard

1. Check the daggerboard pendant is tied securely to the top of the board.
2. Lower the board into its case so it rests on the bottom of the slot (fully down).
3. When you sail in shallow water you will pull it up to about half-way, and on the beach raise it completely.