What's the fastest gear?

There isn't any!

Despite all the evidence over the last five years Optimist owners still wonder if there is a way to buy success by getting the fastest boat and sail.

But this is a one-design Class: there should be no go-fast gear, and there isn't!

We list below the hulls and sails used by the top ten sailors at this year's Europeans:
TEN different makes of hull, SEVEN different makes of sail!

and no one doubts that any other of the 30+ builders could have been listed as well.

GIRLSHullSailBOYSHullSail
ITA 5894 Morgan Supreme ITA5980 Morgan Eurosails
CRO 817 Nautivela Victory ARG2827 Brites* Olimpic
NED 2343 Nordest Toni Tio ESP809 Lenam Alisios
CRO 759 Nautivela Victory ESP635 Naaix Toni Tio
PER 264 Brites* Toni Tio CRO761 Nautivela Victory
ITA 6011 Nordest Eurosails ESP302 Rio Tecna Toni Tio
SWE 3821 Finessa North SWE3882 Björndahl Olimpic
GRE 1225 Nordest Olimpic USA11873 Brites* Olimpic
NED 2384 Van Wettum Olimpic GRE1301 Nordest Olimpic
ESP 772 Nautivela Toni Tio ISR301 Nautivela Olimpic
* = Charter boat

For further evidence (do you need any?) see the 2000 analysis.
Last Updated on 2/8/02
By Robert Wilkes