Optimist running rigging
All classesEvery line on the boat: what the class rules, builders, riggers and rope makers name for it, and the rope we stock for each. We show what the sources say and add no tuning advice of our own. Sizes are rope diameters.
- lines
- 8lines
- stocked
- 8stocked
- with an exact match
- 1with an exact match
- sources
- 15sources
Exact the rope the source namesAnalogue same fibre, heat-set, cover, sizeNearest closest we stock, differing attribute namedNot stocked not in our range
The picks for this class are as the sources report them; fewer of them were re-read than for J/70.
Halyards 1 lines
Sprit halyard
Class rule: rope or rope/wire combination, maximum two parts1Common ground
Dyneema or Technora/Dyneema, 3-6 mm; sources disagree on diameter (WCS Alpha SSR 4 mm, Optiparts 3 mm, class-association-style guide 6 mm); class rule: rope or rope/wire, max two parts
Typical: Spliced loops at both ends (Optiparts, Zim, Armare complete systems cut and finished); one end tapered to pass the sprit. We splice to order.
What each source names (6)· sources differ, shown side by side
- West Coast Sailing2Names: Alpha Ropes SSR 4 mm
- West Coast Sailing3Names: Optiparts Pro Line Halyard (Technora/Dyneema)
- West Coast Sailing4Names: 6 mm rope
- Armare5Names: Armare Optimist Halyard SystemNot in our range — we don’t stock this rope or a close match.Not stocked
- Zim Sailing7Names: Dyneema halyard line
- Marinestore11Names: Dyneema 3 mm
Sheets 1 lines
Mainsheet (tapered)
Class rule: no minimum listed for this lineCommon ground
Tapered at both ends in almost every source: 6-6.5 mm ends, 8-9 mm middle (Maffioli Air Swift 5.5/9/7); Dyneema blended with PA/PES or Technora; sources 6.5/9.0/6.5, 6/9/6, 6-8-6, 6.5/9/6.5
Typical: Machine-tapered at the factory in every source; non-tapered 6-7 mm precut mainsheets (Robline Mainlite, Bzzz, Polilite) are the alternative; eye splice on finished OptiRace. We splice to order.
What each source names (7)· sources differ, shown side by side
- West Coast Sailing2Names: Rooster Polilite 7 mmNot in our range — we don’t stock this rope or a close match.Not stocked
- Gleistein6Names: Gleistein OptiRace (tapered)Not in our range — we don’t stock this rope or a close match.Not stocked
- Zim Sailing7Names: Robline Mainlite 6-7 mm
- Galco9Names: Galco TaperPro
- Sail-World14Names: Maffioli Air Swift (tapered)Not in our range — we don’t stock this rope or a close match.Not stocked
- West Coast Sailing15Names: Optiparts Double Tapered MainsheetNot in our range — we don’t stock this rope or a close match.Not stocked
Control lines 3 lines
Outhaul
Class rule: rope only, wire prohibited; maximum two purchases, no blocks1Common ground
3.5-4 mm; Dyneema or high-tenacity polyester; class rule: rope only (wire prohibited), max two purchases, no blocks
Typical: Figure-eight stopper behind the clew (4 mm guide); Armare ready-to-use spliced and finished. We splice to order.
What each source names (4)· sources differ, shown side by side
Vang (kicker)
Class rule: no minimum listed for this lineCommon ground
Dyneema primary 1.7-3 mm with a 5-6 mm control line; Zim and Optiparts Pro vang is a spliced kit
Typical: Loops on each end, control line luggage-tagged to the primary (WCS); Dyneema upper section spliced to the boom (Zim). We splice to order.
What each source names (5)· sources differ, shown side by side
Downhaul (boom lift)
Class rule: single part rope and/or wire, within 200 mm of boom jaws1Common ground
Class rule: single part rope and/or wire; 3 mm boom lift in the Optiparts guide; Armare Optimist Downhaul ready to use
Typical: Armare version spliced and finished. We splice to order.
What each source names (2)· sources differ, shown side by side
Other lines 3 lines
Mainsheet bridle / boom-jaw retainer / mast tie-in / small fixings
Class rule: no minimum listed for this lineCommon ground
3 mm (Robline Orion 500 or Dinghy Control in WCS; 3 mm in Optiparts guide)
Typical: Knotted (figure-eights, reef knots). We splice to order.
What each source names (2)· sources differ, shown side by side
Painter / bow line
Class rule: buoyant rope, minimum 5 mm1Common ground
Floating polypropylene 5-6 mm; class minimum 5 mm
Typical: Fixed to the mast thwart. We splice to order.
What each source names (2)· sources differ, shown side by side
Sail ties / corner ties
Class rule: no minimum listed for this lineCommon ground
Thin cord: Robline Dinghy Control 3 mm in WCS; Optiparts Vectran 1.2 / 2.2 mm; Robline Opti Dinghy Lashing 0.9 mm
Typical: Knotted. We splice to order.
What each source names (3)· sources differ, shown side by side
Sources
- International Optimist Class Rules 2020. https://www.ussailing.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IODA-Class-Rules-2020.pdf Seen 2026-10-23.
- Opti Line Guide (Optimist Resources). https://westcoastsailing.net/opti-line-guide/ Seen 2026-10-23.
- Opti Line Kit Pro (Optiparts) EX1370. https://westcoastsailing.net/opti-line-kit-pro-optiparts-ex1370/ Seen 2026-10-23.
- Setting up your Optiparts Standard Optimist Rig. https://westcoastsailing.net/content/rigging-guides/rigging-guide-optimist-school-spars.pdf Seen 2026-10-23.
- One Design - Classes - Optimist. https://store.armareropes.com/eng/one-design-line/classes/optimist.html Seen 2026-10-23.
- OptiRace. https://gleistein.com/en/applications/watersports-performance/single-product/optirace/ Seen 2026-10-23.
- Opti Parts - Line. https://zimsailing.com/parts/opti-parts/line/ Seen 2026-10-23.
- Opti Parts - Rigging. https://zimsailing.com/parts/opti-parts/rigging Seen 2026-10-23.
- Optimist TaperPro black-neon green. https://galcoropes.com/webshop/628/op-taperpro/1402/op-taperpro-blackneongreen Seen 2026-10-23.
- Robline Tapered Opti Mainsheet MT-OPTI. https://shop.theyachtrigger.com/products/robline-tapered-opti-mainsheet-mt-opti Seen 2026-10-23.
- Optiparts Replacement Halyard Line 1353. https://marinestore.co.uk/optiparts-replacement-halyard-line-1353.html Seen 2026-10-23.
- Opti Vang (Tapered). https://westcoastsailing.net/opti-vang-tapered Seen 2026-10-23.
- Opti Dinghy Lashing - 0.9 mm. https://fisheriessupply.com/fse-robline-opti-dinghy-lashing Seen 2026-10-23.
- Of Wings and Strings - Cordage with Gottifredi Maffioli. https://www.sail-world.com/-83691 Seen 2026-10-23.
- Opti Mainsheet Double Tapered (Optiparts) EX1379P. https://westcoastsailing.net/opti-mainsheet-double-tapered-ex1379p Seen 2026-10-23.
Prices per metre incl. 24% VAT, live from our rope list.