Class Descriptions

	Objective of this level	Students will:
Apprentice Optimist	A good beginning sailing experience, hopefully as a skipper, not racing.	Learn how to sail the boat in ideal conditions, and negotiate between buoys (possibly with instructor verbal assistance), and return to and land the boat at a dock.
Optimist Sail/Race	A positive experience in sailing as a racing skipper.	Learn racing starts, buoy roundings, and basic racing rules. Learn to sail in windy conditions. Gain skills in safety, effective boat handling in all conditions. More advanced racing rules, boat speed skills, and fundamental racing tactics.
X-Boat	Have fun while learning better racing skills and regatta preparation.	Learn the tactics and strategy of competitive racing. Beginners will be on a separate track, learning fundamental boat handling skills.
High School 420	Learn fundamentals of the 420 and advance to understand high school racing tactics.	Have fun while learning the nuances of the 420, the preferred high school and collegiate sailboat. Class curriculum will be adjusted to match skill levels of students particiapting.
Adult	Understand the fundamentals of sailing, and gain experience sailing a 420 on your own.	Click here to view curriculum.

What is an Optimist?

• "a flat-bottomed, hard-chine, pram-bow dinghy with a spritsail" (The Book of Small Craft)
• "a bathtub that breeds the best sailors"
• 7'  6 ½" long, 3' 8" wide. Weight 77lbs
• Easily transported on top of any car, (where it will drip water over your shiny paintwork!).
• Safe and simple enough for an 8-year old
• Exciting and technical enough for a 15-year old

Why the Optimist?

• Optimists are designed for kids. Kids can handle them without danger, fear or back-strain
• Single-handed is a great way to learn.  They didn't learn to ride a bike on a tandem
• Over 150,000 kids in over 100 countries cannot be wrong.
• Former Optimist sailors were over 50% of the sailing competitors at the last Olympics
• The Okauchee Lake Sailing School owns 7 Optimists.  Rental is free in apprentice classes, and a small charge for more advanced classes.  

What is a Class X boat?

• "pointed bow, two person boat – built like a tank - which breeds great sailors"
• "a stable boat – forgiving for the beginner, but skills learned transfer to any boat"
• 16" long, 7 wide.   Weight 470 lbs
• Easily transported on a trailer.  Typically stored on a trailer or a boat lift.
• To compete, you must be under 16, but boat is large enough to be a great family day sailor
  

Why the Class X boat?

• “wildly popular in SE Wisconsin, with many local competitions – which breed social opportunities”
• Two person (skipper and crew) builds teamwork and friendships
• Great competition (and social interaction) available right on Okauchee
• Fleets on Okauchee, North, Pine, la Belle, Pewaukee, etc.   
• Many former Class X sailors compete at HS national, collegiate national and Olympic levels
• The Okauchee Lake Sailing School owns 2 Class X boats available as scholarship or low rental fee  

What is a 420?

• "pointed bow, two person, which breeds great sailors"
• "a stable boat – forgiving for the beginner, but skills learned transfer to any boat"
• 14" long, 5 wide. Weight 150lbs
• Easily transported on a trailer.  Typically stored on a ramp or a small dolly.  Launches by hand.
  

Why the 420?

• “the boat of choice for high school sailing (more than 500 high schools nationwide)
• “the boat of choice for collegiate sailing (more than 100 universities nationwide)
• Two person (skipper and crew) builds teamwork and friendships
• High school teams active at Oconomowoc, Arrowhead, and some Milwaukee area schools
• The Okauchee Lake Sailing School owns 2 420’s.  Boat rental built into tuition.