The countdown to the biggest UK Optimist event in the calendar has begun, the IOCA National Championships gets underway this year on the 6th August at Weymouth. Get kitted out with everything your young sailor needs, with our top recommendations from the sailing experts and Oppie parents here at P&B.
It can be a bit daunting preparing for your child's first National event. Our top tip is to check over the event noticeboard, keep an eye out for the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. This is where you'll find all the latest information for the event, including courses for all fleets and timings. It's also where you'll find all the measurement certification requirements for your fleet. Check over your boat's paperwork in advance in case you need to update or replace essential kit.
All sailors will require a whistle on board for safety and remember that buoyancy bags cannot show any signs of damage, including fraying around the edges. Pennant holders, particularly the plastic ones, are liable to fail so carry a couple spare in your kit bag - carry spare lacing lines with you too. Shouts of "Mast Clamp!!" can often be heard on the shore as the dash to launch gets underway, this vital piece of equipment helps to prevent your mast ruining the thwart should an inversion/turtle happen. Team it with a cup style mast step for easy mast rake adjustments.
Your Oppie needs to have x3 buoyancy bags present, of at least 40l capacity each. We've recommended the twist-lock valve option here to make inflation and deflation easy. Reduce the inflation in warmer conditions to allow for expansion while out on the water. You'll also need to have at least one bailer of at least 1L capacity secured to the hull, we like the Optiparts bailers, available in green and red to remind them of the port and starboard sides.
Other essentials are the praddle for when caught in a drifter, which needs to be secured to the hull and your burgee. Our tried and tested wind indicator is the Hawk, but it's wise to carry a spare, such as the Falker Burgee, in case of a loss.
A skiff suit or long john allows for a combination of layers, which can be completed with a spray top, wetsuit top or even just a long-sleeved rash vest for good UV cover. If the weather's cooler pack a spray top - they're perfect for keeping out the cool breezes and guarding against the worst of the ocean spray, choose one which has an easy-opening neck so your young sailor can remove it without needing assistance out on the water. It might be on trend for kids to sail in bare feet, but anyone who's attempted to negotiate a pebbly beach or caught their toes on a sharp object while sailing realises that it can be dangerous to go without some form of foot covering. Choose from traditional dinghy boots, or for a more barefoot feel, opt for something super thin and flexible. Complete your basic sailing kit with a decent pair of gloves and a hat to reduce glare and protect from the sun's rays.
How many times have you sent your sailor out for a day of sailing with a full bag of carefully prepared lunch, snacks and drinks, only for them to come back in hours later with a barely-touched bag of soggy food and a whole lot of hanger? They don't always get very long between races - and as food has to be consumed on the go it can often go overlooked. Help avoid this by making snacks easily accessible and openable, in a small drybag which can be clipped out of the way but within grabbing reach. Look for drinks bottles with loops in the lid that can be threaded through and kept out of the way with bungee cord. We like the Gill drybags as they come in a variety of brightly coloured sizes, from 5l-50l, with enough snack space to keep even the hungriest sailor content. Tubs are also handy, but the screwtops can be a bit of a fiddle to get open on the water if you're wearing gloves. Buoyancy aids with large front pockets have great snack-stashing possibilities, the Junior Pursuit Buoyancy Aid from Gill has a huge pocket making it a favourite here with the P&B Oppie kids.
Launch time can be a bit of a free-for-all, with a large number of boats heading for the shore or slipway at the same time. Make it easier with a trolley kit from Optiparts, the foam pads are held on with strong velcro and feature an easy-slide surface for slick launching. There's a space for your sail number/name to make identification just as quick too. Also, pack a couple of spare P clips, they often get misplaced when the collapsible trolleys get dismantled.
When it's time to pack up make it easy as possible for them with a large kit bag that can accommodate all their kit, wet or not. Look for one with waterproof internal pockets, or a roll top like this Gill Rolling Holdall. Tuck your Optimist up in a custom top and bottom cover for the best protection while in transit. This Magic Marine set is always really popular and co-ordinates with the Magic Marine buoyancy airbags and bumpers.
Good luck to all the Optimist sailors out there, enjoy Weymouth!
