Beginner Optimist Sample Eight Week Teaching Outline Weeks 1-2

Week 1 Program and harbor rules / Rules of road Sportsmanship - team sport - working together Safety whistle Swim tests Health - exercise - protection from sun - safety consciousness Comfortable in boat and on water Avoid collisions (with all boats) Rig and de-rig with no instructor help 8-knot, square knot, cleat knot Basic parts of boat - mainsheet, tiller, sail, sprit pole, tiller extension, dagger board, rudder, mast, boom Wind and its direction Safety position Capsize and recovery Towing and towing rules Steering….. tow w/o mast Leaving the dock Where and how to sit

Week 2 Basic boat care - proper and neat stowing and securing - washing boats Parts of boat cont. - starboard/port, bow/stern, mast preventer, mast step, thwart, hull, pins and gudgeons Half-hitch and Bowline No go zone Reaching How and what a tack is How and what running is Returning to the dock Sail a figure eight Using the paddle while steering Recovering from irons Squall/storm drill

Beginner Optimist Sample Eight Week Teaching Outline Weeks 3-4

Week 3 Sailing upwind More work on getting out of irons Sailing a triangle and a square How and what a gybe is How wind moves a boat Coil and throw a line Master the bowline

Week 4 Opti Olympics …goal is to show their confidence in what they have learned, review, and have fun - sprit pole race - swim race - relay sail to buoy - rigging race - team spirit (clothing) - knot tying contest - quiz game

Beginner Optimist Sample Eight Week Teaching Outline Weeks 5-6

Week 5 Simple navigation - North, South, East, West - recognizing landmarks - navigation buoys - water depth Wind puffs and lulls - how to know when they are coming Current & Tides Tying sail ties and fixing sail Upwind sailing skills Using telltales Undo sprit pole and refit on water Sailing as a way to get somewhere Sitting position for different conditions Stopping/Starting

Week 6 Intro to rules Starboard/Port…. Right of way How a sail works - pulling - pushing Anchoring Rowing Daggerboard positions Balance - how body placement and movement affects boat Execute a 360

Beginner Optimist Sample Eight Week Teaching Outline Weeks 7-8

Week 7 Windward/Leeward…. Right of way Sprit pole adjustment Sail controls - outhaul - downhaul - boom vang Intro to big boat sailing

Week 8 Intro to racing (kid dependent) Sportsmanship in racing Starting sequence Mark rounding Clear air