Youth Sailing: Optimist Boat-Building
For
the youngest sailing enthusiasts under 100 pounds or up to 14 years old,
we offer our family-oriented Optimist boat-building and sailing program.
The Optimist is an ideal first boat to teach kids how to sail, have fun
in boats, and race.
By this season there will be about a dozen Optimist dinghies in the Pittsburgh
area.
MSC is planning special events of fun and learning for these junior skippers.
Kits are available for around $300 including the loan of a building form and as much advice as needed to complete this simple project that takes an adult about 30 hours to complete. These boats are 8 Ft long and about 4 Ft wide and thus can be built in a single car garage without space problems.
Several times I have led a team of 5 friends to build one in an evening, starting at 5 pm and having a completed hull with undercoat paint and sail made by 11 pm. If there is interest we can arrange a group building session in my barn, or other convenient center. There is still time to build one with the junior member of your family. Contact John Bridges for further details (724 625 9348) or brimor@aol.com).
You can buy a complete Opti, which meets the International rules, or
build one from the kit to the original Clark Mills design.
.
For more information, contact:
- John Bridges, 724-625-9348 or brimor@aol.com
