At the end of eight weeks, an Intermediate Optimist sailor should know how to……..

 

Safety

Follow program and harbor rules

Stay protected from the sun

Be safety conscious (Rule 1)

Use a safety whistle appropriately

Put on and take off a PFD in the water

Tread water without a PFD for two minutes in the sea

Avoid collisions

Get in the safety position

Capsize and recover

Execute a squall/storm drill

 

Seamanship

Avoid contact (Rule 14)

Use windward/leeward (Rule 11)

Use Starboard/Port (Rule 10)

Use clear ahead/clear astern (Rule 12)

Be comfortable in an Opti on the water

Tie an 8-knot, square knot, cleat knot, bowline, half hitch, and clove hitch

Coil and throw a line

Identify points of sail

Know where the wind is coming from

Explain actual vs. apparent wind

Rig and de-rig properly

Name the parts of an Opti

Take care of a boat

     - proper and neat stowing and securing

     - washing boats

     - checking sail for ties

     - tying ties

Check mast preventer

Explain how a sail works

     - push

     - pull

Do simple navigation

     - North, South, East, West

     - recognizing landmarks

     - navigation buoys

     - water depth

     - reading a chart

     - using a compass

Recognize the approach of puffs and lulls

Use the paddle while steering

Steer responsibly on a tow

Attach a sail onto spars

Recognize and sail in currents and tides

Assess weather

     - simple weather systems

     - clouds and what they mean

     - wind and weather

     - weather reports

     - barometric pressure

Use sailing as a way to get somewhere

Row

Anchor

Sail as passenger or crew on a big boat

 

Boathandling

Leave the dock

Return to the dock

Stay out of the no-go-zone except when tacking

Recover from irons

Maintain proper body position and weight placement in the boat

Hold the tiller and mainsheet correctly

Gybe

     - s gybe as apposed to c gybe

     - pull in sail and center tiller

Tack

Sail downwind

     - reach

     - run

     - sail trim dictated by where wind is

     - body position and placement

     - steering

     - sail by the lee

Upwind sailing

     - close-hauled

     - steering a straight course…..paying attention

     - watching for speed and balloon in luff

     - telltales

Sail a figure eight

Sail a triangle

Sail a square

Use telltales for upwind steering

Stop and start

     - heading into wind

     - backwinding sail

     - pull in and head off

Execute a 360

Adjust the daggerboard for different conditions and points of sail

Where, when, and how to sit

Position body weight

     - steering with weight

     - how body placement and movement affects the boat

     - for different weather conditions

     - for different points of sail

Adjust sail shape (when and why)

     - outhaul

     - boom vang

     - gooseneck

     - sprit tension

     - for different weather conditions

     - for different points of sail

Sail backwards

 

Sportsmanship

Respect others

Respect equipment

View sailing as a team sport

Work in a team during rigging and activities

                                                                                                                                                  

Racing

Understand sportsmanship in racing

     - responsibility

     - fair sailing

Use tacking rules (Rule 13)

Sail a starting sequence

     - clear air

Avoid la-la land

Assess wind on a course

Round a mark

     - the mechanics of it

     - basic applications of Rule 18

Finish

Act on puffs and lulls

Adjust sail controls for different legs

Adjust weight for speed

Find clear air

Use rules in racing

Execute a 360 when foul occurs