Optima 101
Data provided by the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC)
Sailing performance as a polar diagram
A polar diagram shows boat speed at different wind angles and wind speeds. The distance from center represents boat speed in knots, and the angle represents the boats angle to the wind. The wind speed is shown as true wind speed (TWS), not apparent wind speed. Likewise, the wind angle is shown as true wind angle (TWA), not apparent wind angle.
Beat: Sailing upwind (toward the wind)
Reach: Sailing across the wind
Run: Sailing downwind (away from the wind)
VMG Performance
Wind Speed (columns): True wind speed (TWS) in knots - the actual wind speed, not the apparent wind you feel on deck.
VMG (Velocity Made Good) is your effective speed toward your destination, not your actual boat speed.
Beat VMG (top bars): Speed made good when sailing upwind. Higher is better - it means you're reaching the windward mark faster.
Run VMG (bottom bars): Speed made good when sailing downwind. Higher is better - it means you're reaching the leeward mark faster.
Identity
Dimensions
Sail Areas
VPP Speed Table
| Wind Speed | 52° | 60° | 75° | 90° | 110° | 120° | 135° | 150° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6kt | 4.94 | 5.20 | 5.36 | 5.25 | 5.15 | 4.99 | 4.48 | 3.80 |
| 8kt | 5.80 | 6.03 | 6.17 | 6.12 | 6.18 | 6.03 | 5.54 | 4.85 |
| 10kt | 6.29 | 6.46 | 6.59 | 6.63 | 6.73 | 6.65 | 6.31 | 5.73 |
| 12kt | 6.54 | 6.69 | 6.84 | 6.92 | 7.07 | 7.02 | 6.77 | 6.39 |
| 14kt | 6.67 | 6.84 | 7.03 | 7.10 | 7.36 | 7.33 | 7.11 | 6.80 |
| 16kt | 6.74 | 6.92 | 7.17 | 7.30 | 7.61 | 7.63 | 7.43 | 7.11 |
| 20kt | 6.79 | 6.99 | 7.33 | 7.60 | 8.02 | 8.25 | 8.13 | 7.73 |