Key details
- Current boat name
- No 25
- Boat class
- 7335
- Sail number
- 25
- Function
- Sports and Leisure
- Type
Dimensions and specifications
- Length (m / ft)
- 2.31 / 7ft 7in
- Beam (m / ft)
- 1.13 / 3ft 8in
- Leeward
- Keel - fin
- Masts
- 1
- Rig type
- Spritsail Sloop
- Propulsion
- Sail
Design and build
- Designer
- Mills C
- Date of build
- 1961 c
Current status
- Present use
- Museum/NMMC
History
The Optimist class was designed in Florida in 1947, since when over 300,000 have been built. It was introduced into Britain in 1960 by Nigel Ringrose. The class received International status in 1973 and was adopted by the RYA as their introductory single-hander for training and racing. This craft, No 25, was one of the first built in the UK for Optimist Boats, a company set up by Nigel Ringrose. It probably dates from late 1960 or early 1961 and would have cost £39. The history of the boat is largely unknown, although she was reconditioned in 1990. November 2007