Ullman Sails is proud to launch a brand new set of Optimist designs for our youngest sailors. A big thanks must go out to Jose Fernandez, the owner of Ullman Sails Canary Islands and head of the Optimist one design division at Ullman Sails for spearheading the process, Bruce Hollis, head of Ullman Race Design, and our world-class facility in Cape Town as part of Ullman Sails South Africa for the manufacturing of the new Optimist designs. The sails are already proving themselves on the race course.

Ullman sailors Sean Kavanagh and Joshua Keytel recently competed in the 2021 SA Sailing Optimist Dinghy National Championship using the latest Optimist designs from Ullman Sails. Sean used the new Red (Medium Heavy) design and Joshua the Blue (Light Medium) design to great effect. Sean won the Championship and young Joshua finished a respectable 7th.

Here is their report back on the new Optimist sails from Ullman Sails:

The sails performed excellently in winds that ranged from 3-30 knots. In the light air, the sails were easily set to the best balance between lift and drag, while they were flattened in heavy air so that the sailors could keep the boats flat and fast.

Sean was particularly impressive on the strong wind days, winning all the races sailed in 15 knots or more of breeze. In race 8, the windiest race of the regatta, he was four minutes ahead of the second-place boat. With his sail perfectly trimmed, he was consistently higher and faster upwind and in full control sailing maximum VMG downwind.

The regatta went down to the wire with the last race in 6-9 knots, seeing an epic battle between Sean Kavanagh and Sean Sadler. Throughout the regatta 50kg Sean Kavanagh had been dominant in strong wind and 33kg Sean Sadler was dominant in light air. One point separated the two entering the last race.

Ullman Sails youth ambassador Sean Kavanagh had the better start with a clear lane from the committee boat end. Sean Sadler was a few boats down and in a very skinny lane. With a couple of good tacks, Sean Sadler managed to extricate himself and slowly reeled in Sean Kavanagh. By the first weather mark Sean Sadler led by four boat lengths.

Sean Sadler made a wide mark rounding, allowing Sean Kavanagh to get the inside lane. Sean Kavanagh kited his oppi very well, holding it steady, reducing wetted surface area, and getting max sail area into the light breeze. Sean Sadler was a little less stable downwind. By the leeward mark Sean Kavanagh led by two boat lengths.

The two sailors split tacks for the second upwind. Sean Kavanagh going right and Sean Sadler left towards the shore. Sean Sadler picked up a favourable shift and returned to the right reducing leverage halfway up the beat, appearing to have climbed a ladder rung on Sean Kavanagh. As the two sailors worked to the starboard lay line, Sean Kavanagh on the outside started to win back a little ground. Sean Kavanagh tacked slightly above the lay line and Sean Sadler just below. Approaching the weather mark Sean Sadler sailed a high, slightly slow mode and Sean Kavanagh a lower faster mode. Sean Sadler led Sean Kavanagh around the weather mark for the second time, again by around four boat lengths.

The final downwind was a nail-biter as Sean Kavanagh was again able to kite his boat better than Sean Sadler, gaining an inside overlap at the final turning mark.

The boats were bow to stern on the reach to the finish. Sean Kavanagh held on to take the race and regatta win.

Well done to Ullman Ambassador Sean and Joshua, congratulations on an excellent regatta. We can’t wait to watch you in action at the next one!