Skip to main content

About


 

 

What is OPTI TV?


Opti TV was created to be a resource for primarily US based Optimist sailors, parents and coaches. We found that the Opti class lacked a centralized knowledge base as the Opti Class continues to evolve. Our focus is primarily advice and information for competitive optimist sailors and their support persons.


Meet the Team

Alberto Olivo  

Founder, Producer/Presenter, Editor

An industry veteran of over a decade, Alberto has coached Optimists for over 7 years to success in the Green and Championship Fleet. Currently the Youth Programs Director at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Alberto brings a wealth of knowledge and camera skill to Opti TV as well as a passion for furthering the sport. A proven track record of growth in sailing, Alberto now aims to bring that to you!

Daniel O'Farrill

Contributor/Editor

Hailing from Mexico, Daniel is a well-rounded sailor who has found success first in the Laser Radial, the club 420 and now in college sailing. A member of the Jacksonville University varsity team, Daniel brings racing experience and a passion for coaching to Opti TV. Daniel is also an accomplished videographer, with some of his work featured by the International Laser Class Association and US Sailing.

Omari Scott

Contributor, Presenter/Producer

One of the most accomplished Optimist coaches in the United States, Omari Scott has done it all. Providing a unique insight into high-level Optimist Racing, Omari brings a proven track record of results and USNT experience to Opti TV and we are proud to have him onboard. Omari is currently the Head Optimist Coach at the Coral Reef YC, and Varsity Coach at Ransom Everglades HS. 

Federico Donzino

International Contributor

Fede Donzino, known to some as 'El Profesor', is currently coaching for Port Credit YC in Canada and is our first International Contributor. Fede has applied his methodical coaching style to some of Canada's top opti sailors - at all the IODA Continental Championships. Get to know The Professor, only here on Opti TV.


Mike Dowd


Contributor

Mike hails from Sarasota, Florida and is known as a bit of a waterman. From racing long distances in catamarans to kiteboarding, he does it all. As the Head Coach of the Coastal Elite Racing Team, Mike brings the heat to the northeast and is now working with Opti TV to bring his expertise to you. Catch his take on things, only here on Opti TV. 

Connor Corgard

International Contributor

Based out of Auckland, New Zealand, Coach Connor, or “Coco” as many of his athletes call him, hails from Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He is notorious for the personal connections he forms with each one of the sailors he works with, giving them endless guidance on their long term development as athletes. In the past, Coco has contributed to the successes of Optimist Team USA and Team New Zealand. He has coached multiple World Champions and Olympians across many classes representing numerous countries around the globe, so we welcome the plethora of knowledge and experience Coco brings to Opti TV.







Scott Norman

Contributor

Scott Norman is perhaps the reason why the US Opti National Team exists. Scott is a legend amongst the US Opti scene and is directly responsible for a lot of sailors out on the water. Take a peek at the Scott Norman archive, and learn from this legend here on Opti TV.


Our Aim

Opti TV aims to be the ultimate resource for Opti sailors, their parents, and coaches in the US and in a future, worldwide. Using modern tools and social media we hope to be a source of tips, tricks, news and everything in between so that your sailing and sailing program can succeed. 

Get In Touch

Instagram - @opti_tv
Facebook - /optitv.net
Email - alberto@optitv.net

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Is This A Chance To Start Fresh? Parents Take Note

The Opti Class is a large enterprise spanning some 150,000 sailors (probably more) worldwide. They all love to sail, and some love to race. Under COVID-19 racing as we know it will not be possible in the near term. That does not mean we can’t race, it means we need to do things differently. There are many really smart people who race sailboats and organize racing and regattas. Plenty of them are in the medical field. There is tremendous brain power at work right now sorting through the issues of how we can continue to facilitate the development of young sailors in a safe way.  The first recommendation is for us to let kids get back to sailing for the fun of it, simply to enjoy sailing for what it is. Just get them out and let them explore their watery world. Sailboat racing, like many other things in life, has been heading in the direction of more and more perfection and complication. We are going to be dialing it back. As we ease into racing it will be with fewer people out

The Post-Opti Life: 29er Sailing And Skiff Culture

 A New Series To Connect Sailors To What's Out There We tried something different with this one as we constantly get questions about what comes after the Opti. Part of what we want to do at Opti TV is to connect the class with the next steps, so naturally we went to take a look at the 29er class from the viewpoint of what kind of sailor wants to compete in 29ers. The 29er is a deceptively simple boat that requires agility and strength, and a mindset of sharing and growth. As a pre-olympic boat it's not for the faint of heart. We went over to the US Sailing Center in Miami to meet up with 2Niner Head Coach Phil Muller for day 1 of racing in the 2nd event of the Skiff Generation Grand Prix, a really great event that he has put together with US Sailing and the 49er class. It was a great day of racing, albeit light and notably it had several of the US Sailing Team members racing on 49ers and the 49erFX. We'll let you read the recap here: SGGP Event 2 Recap because we were more

What Should Be In Your Dock Box/Ditty Bag

 Although the Optimist class is comprised of children, the fact of the matter is that serious racing happens in the Optimist class and that carries with it needs for equipment and replacement parts. Any sailor or coach worth their salt will tell you that you need a ditty bag or tackle box to carry spare parts and tools in order to keep your Opti up or in case of technicals - breakage - out on the race course.  The historical example of a ditty bag, complete with marlinspike So what should you keep in your ditty bag? At the bare minimum, your ditty bag needs to have tools to repair or adjust parts of your boat. A good set of screwdrivers, of medium length, pliers, and a crescent wrench are absolute musts Example contents of a ditty bag. Note the ample variety of tape, tools and spare line Next, you'd want to add a roll of sail tape, the thick kind, to patch up tears or holes that might happen. I cannot stress the importance of dealing with that sooner rather than later, because a sm