The Champ Fleet Race Team is for experienced Opti racers seeking continued development of their skills on a regional-level travel team. Sailors progress into advanced handling and sail trim techniques while developing experience in race tactics, wind strategy, independent decision-making, fitness, tuning, and sailing by the rules. Coaches provide a fun and supportive team environment to both nurture and challenge a competitive sailor through a season of training and regattas.
Opti Champ Fleet Racing is organized into three fleets based on a sailor's age. All three fleets race together but are scored in separate divisions. White Fleet is for sailors 10 and under, Blue Fleet is for sailors 11-12, and Red Fleet is for sailors 13-15. Most sailors will size out of the Opti Class before aging out. We recommend experienced Opti sailors nearing 115 pounds complete one season in their fleet while transitioning into our c/420 Race Team.
Our schedule follows the school year calendar with the Fall Season running from late August through mid-December and the Spring Season running from early January through mid-May. Sailors may enroll in either a full-year or one-semester season.
We meet for practice sailing sessions twice a week after school and on Saturdays when we are not away at regattas. During the winter we host a series of interactive video reviews, team games, and fun boat tune-up sessions when it is too dark to sail. We typically sail an average of two events per month.
Sailing your own IODA-compliant Optimist Dinghy is encouraged. If needed, we provide a basic boat lease and starter equipment package for Champ Fleet Race Team members. This includes the boat, spars, blades, covers, travel dolly, and a club practice sail. We also offer a low-cost starter race kit complete with extra sail ties, control lines, airbags, bailers, simple hand tools, tape, and select spare parts. We strongly recommend purchasing a new race sail and personalized rigging equipment when leasing team-owned Optis for the Champ Fleet Race Team season.
The Opti Champ Fleet Race Team is open to all sailors ages 9-14 who have completed at least one year of our Green Fleet Race Team and our Advanced Sailing Opti 3 Class. Sailors with equivalent knowledge and experience can request an interview with a coach to join the team.
Required Skills for the Opti Champ Fleet Race Team: [Taught in our Green Fleet Race Team and Advanced Sailing Opti 3 Class]
Awareness of wind shifts, puffs, and lulls.
Demonstrates basic roll tacks and jibes.
Slows and stops a boat in a confined area for over a minute.
Sails backward on command.
Jibes on command while holding a downwind course.
Demonstrates basic daggerboard settings.
Can sail and bail while holding a steady course.
Demonstrates weight placement for light, medium, and strong winds.
Demonstrates sportsmanship and understands fundamental rights of way.
Applies simple tactics to mark roundings.
Can rig, tune, de-rig, and care for equipment independently.
Can tension sprit and vang tension on the water without assistance.
Can plan and execute a station keeper start with acceleration.