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• interviews
  • Mark Mendelblatt
    • David Schmidt interviews Mark Mendelblatt U.S. Olympic Star skipper
      
      
  • Erik Storck
    • David Schmidt interviews Erik Storck,USSTAG 49ER skipper
      
      
  • Zach Railey
    • David Schmidt interviews Zach Railey, USSTAG Finn sailor.
      
  • Paige Railey
    • David Schmidt interviews Paige Railey USSTAG Laser Radial sailor.
  • Bora Gulari
    • David Schmidt interviews Bora Gulari, Moth Champion
  • Jonathan McKee
    • David Schmidt interviews Jonathan McKee about the value of teamwork.
  • Mischa Heemskerk
    • David Schmidt interviews Mischa Heemskerk about rigging for speed on the F18.
  • Tom Slingsby
    • David Schmidt interviews Tom Slingsby about how he has trained to achieve world class status in the Laser.
  • Seb Josse
    • 
      Harken Interviews Seb Josse before the 2008 Vendee Globe Challenge.
  • Sam Davies
    • 
      Sam Davies fulfills a life-long dream as skipper of the Open 60 Roxie in the Vendée Globe.
  • Open 60 Deck Design - Harken France
    • 
      Managing Director Patrick Rieupeyrout and Technical Service Manager Jean Martins discuss Open 60s and the company's role in the Vendée Globe.
  • Grant Simmer
    • 
      Managing Director and Design coordinator of the America's Yacht Alinghi expresses his views on improved winch efficiency,the rules on stored energy, and the development of a new AC class.
• racing
  • SAIL Magazine
    • 
      Sail Magazine writes about Harken in 2009 AC.
  • Mini Maxi Fever
    • 
      Mini Maxis are future-focused yachts sailed by athletes that continuously chase higher efficiency and test out the newest high-performance technology.
  • America's Cup
    • 
      Peter and Olaf Harken discuss the development of Harken hardware.
  • AC Trickledown
    • 
      All Harken customers benefit from our America's Cup research and development with the taxing conditions providing the ultimate test for our gear.
  • Block Development
    • 
      Like many good ideas, Peter Harken's decision to use plastic instead of steel ball bearings in his boat hardware was born of necessity.
  • Paralympics
    • 
      John Ruf turns a life-altering event into an opportunity to excel in a sport he loves— from racing E-Scows to representing the U.S. at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Qingdao, China.
  • Optimists
    • 
      Learn why this 8 ft, flat-bottomed kid's boat has become the first trainer for many of the world's best. And why this unassuming dinghy has brought more new sailors into the sport than any other.
  • Morning Light
    • 
      Roy Disney talks about his documentary Morning Light, an unscripted, full-length film that follows the selection and training of 15 young sailors for the 2007 Transpacific Yacht.
  • Chasing Records
    • 
      Join Matteo Miceli on his solo record-setting passage from Gran Canaria to Guadaloupe in his 6 m (20 ft) beach cat Biondina Nera.
• cruising
  • Electric Furling
    • We answer your questions about Electric Furling
  • Salperton
    • 
      Barry Houghton's sleek cruising sloop Salperton combines the luxury of a contemporary home with the performance of an elegant race boat.
  • Turkish Gulets
    • 
      Turkish Distributor Ibrahim Karatas focuses on gulet-type boats with an eye to improving the performance of these lavish Turkish motorsailers.

Link to Larger Image

Carbo Ratchamatic® Mainsheet Block
Automatically shifts from light air to ratchet mode Engagement adjusts to suit weight and sailing style. Fast Release!

Carbo T2™ Block
Reeve Spectra® line through a snap clip to attach this trick block to the bridle. Use the same line to form a becket on which to deadend the mainsheet.

Opti Hook-In Halyard Block
The Opti hook-in block allows sailors to precisely adjust halyard tension. Glass-filled nylon shell saddles mast to keep block aligned. Free-rolling 16 mm sheave with stainless steel balls handles high loads.

 
Available through your Opti parts dealer
Harken Hook-in Halyard Block available through an Optiparts dealer. Dealer listings at www.iod95.com

Copyright© 2011 Harken, Inc. All rights reserved
If you would like to link to or reprint this article please contact Brownie Lewis
 

CLASS HISTORY
When the Clearwater, Florida Optimist couldn't run the Soap Box Derby program because of the city's flat terrain, they looked for a sailing alternative. In 1947 Clark Mills designed the Optimist Pram?遊?home-built plywood dinghy that cost less than $50. It caught on quickly. In 1958, Axel Damgaard brought the trainer to Denmark where it was modified and renamed the International Optimist Dinghy. Today, this eight-foot, sprit-rigged boat is the only international Sailing Federation approved dinghy for sailors under 16 years of age.

LINKS
International Optimist Class
Optimist Fever
Ice Optimist
Harken Dealers
McLube™
Harken Canvas

BOAT SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 7 ft 61/2 in (2.31 m)
Width: 3 ft 8 in (1.13 m)
Weight: 77 lb (35 kg)
Sail Area: 33 sq. ft (3 m sq.)