Vanguard Optimist User Manual

Optimist Rigging Guide

Vanguard Sailboats
300 Highpoint Ave

Portsmouth, RI. 02871

www.teamvanguard.com

1.800.966.SAIL

BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO READ THE WIND.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO READ THE WATER.

BEGIN BY READING THIS RIGGING GUIDE.

Useful knots to

know:

Figure 8 Knot or

Stopper Knot

Square Knot

Bowline

Cleat

Clove Hitch

Luggage Knot

C

ongratulations on the purchase of your new Vanguard Optimist!We suggest that you read

through this guide to better familiarize yourself with the parts and rigging of your new boat. If you
have any questions please contact your dealer or call Vanguard’s customer service at 1-800-966-SAIL.

Nautical Terminology:

Port: Left side of the boat when looking forward

Starboard: Right side of the boat when looking forward

Gunwale: Upper edge of a boat’s side

Leeward: Direction away from the wind

Windward: Direction from which the wind is coming

Mast

Halyard

Sprit

Boom

Mast step

Tiller with Extension

Ru

dder

Daggerboard

Sail

L

uff

Leech

M

ainsheet

M

ain

sh

eet Blocks

T

ack

Foot of the Sail

Clew

Airbags

Rudder

Hiking Strap

Airbag straps

M

ainsheet

Mast Thwart

Daggerboard Trunk

M

ainsheet Bridle

Bow

Stern

Mast Collar

Head of the Sail

Sail Tie

Vang

Outhaul

Your new Vanguard Optimist will come with three boxes. One box for the spar set, one for the blades and
one for the delivery kit containing the sail, block and lines. Use caution while opening the boxes as to
a

void damaging the contents. Be sure not to cut into the packaging inside of the box.

Locate th

e box containing the spars (Figure ).

Inside you will find :

1. Mast

2. Sprit

3. Boom

Be sure to remove all of the packaging (plastic, bubble wrap,
zip ties) before continuing to rig your Optimist. Use caution
when removing the zip ties so you do not to scratch the spars.

Locate the box labeled delivery kit (Figure 1).
In

side you will find:

1. Lin

e bag

2. USA Sail Letters

3. Hardware

4. Sail with sail bag an

d digital eight sail numbers

Locate the box containing the
blad

es (Fi

gure 4). Inside you will

find:

1. Tiller with extension

2. Rudder

3. Daggerboard

1. Locate the bag from the delivery kit
containing the mainsheet blocks. Remove
t

he mainsheet ratchet block, compression
spring, 1 carbo block and the shackle, pin
a

nd ring (Figure 5).

2

. There are two eyestraps located on the
cockpit floor, aft of the daggerboard thwart
(Figure 6). With the shackle pin and ring,
attach the carbo block to the forward most
e

yestrap (Figure 7).

3. Remove the shackle pin and ring from the
mainsheet ratchet block. Loop the shackle
beneath the aft eyestrap and place the
c

ompression spring over it (figure 8).

4

. While compressing the spring, place the
mainsheet ratchet block at the top of the
spring and align the hole in the bottom of
the block with the holes in the shackle.
Secure the ratchet block to the shackle with
the pin and ring (Figure 9).

Attaching the Mainsheet Blocks:

Pliers

Here is a list of tools that

we recommended you have

to assist you in

assembling your new

O

ptimist:

Utility Knife

Wren

ch

es

Screw Drivers

Electrical T

ape

4. Contents of bag # 3

1. Mi

cro bullet block

2. Carbo block with becket (2)

3. Shackle

, pin and ring

4. Compression spring

5. Mainsheet ratchet block

6. M

ainsheet snap shackle with

strap and ring

7. Daggerboard retainer strap

Attaching the Sail:

1. Retrieve the mast, boom, sail, corner ties
an

d sail ties.

2. A

ttach the boom jaw to the mast right
above the sprit halyard cleat (Figure 10).
When laying the mast and boom down, be
sure that the area is free of sharp objects
that could damage the sail.

3. Unwrap the sail. Lay the sail down over
the mast and boom, aligning the mast with
the luff of the sail and the boom with the
foot of the sail.

4. Locate the sail ties. Starting at the
mast, loop the ties around the mast and
through the grommet in the sail. Secure
with a squ

ar

e knot (figure 11). Tie the sail
ties tight enough that you can slip one
fin

g

er between th

e sail and the mast

(Fi

gur

e 12).

5. Locate th

e corn

er ties. Starting at the

top o

f th

e m

ast, lead one o

f the corner ties
through the top eyestrap then through the
top gr

ommet in the sail. Wrap the corner tie

ar

oun

d twice before securing with a square

knot (Figure 13). Repeat for lower eyestrap.

Figure 5

Figure 7 Figure 8

F

igure 6

Figure 9

Figure 10

Fi

gur

e 11

Fi

gur

e 12

Fi

gur

e 13

Fi

gure 2

Figure 1

Figure 4

Figure 3

1.

3

.

2.

4.

1. 3. 4. 6.

2.

5.

7.

1.

3.2.

3.

2.

1.

Mainsheet Block

Carbo block

Boom Jaw

Sprit H

alyard Cleat

Bow

S

tern