Optimist regatta packing list

The sailor wears

• US Coast Guard-approved PFD (life jacket) that fits snugly, with a whistle attached
• Long-sleeve rashguard and quick-dry layers (no cotton)
• Shorts and closed-toe water shoes or dinghy boots (booties)
• Hat or visor with a clip, and sunglasses with a strap
• Sunscreen applied before launch
• Sailing gloves (optional, helpful for blisters)
• A watch with a countdown timer for starts

The sailor carries (small dry bag, tied in)

• Water bottle, tied or clipped to the boat
• Easy snacks and lunch if the fleet stays out
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• A spray top for wind or rain

The boat

• Sail, spars (mast, boom, sprit) and foils (daggerboard and rudder)
• Daggerboard retainer and rudder retaining clip
• Buoyancy bags, inflated and tied in
• Bailer and sponge, tied in
• Painter (bow line) ready to hand
• Spare sail ties, electrical tape, and a basic tool kit
• Sail number marked where the NOR requires it (many Opti regattas require it on spars and foils)
• Dolly and boat covers

Parents bring

• Printed or saved copies of the Notice of Race and sailing instructions
• Waiver, check-in, measurement, and wristband paperwork (from the Shore School pack list)
• Shade, a chair, water, and snacks for a long day ashore
• A towel and dry clothes for your sailor
• A basic first-aid kit with medical tape
• A handheld marine VHF radio if the event announces a race-committee channel
• Cash for parking or meals

Hot-weather and storm add-ons

• Extra water and electrolyte drink on hot days
• A plan for afternoon storms: know where your sailor will shelter, and that racing pauses when the race committee flies AP
• Rain gear for you and your sailor
• A real extra layer for winter series. Mornings can read warm and still steal heat once a sailor is wet.

Before you leave

Write your family name on every item. Opti gear looks alike on a crowded beach.

Your sailor packs the PFD, whistle, and shoes. Packing those items is a skill they can practice at home.