Yes, there are no shackles or complicated rigging systems on the O’pen Skiff. The O’pen Skiff can be rigged and on the water in less than 2 minutes! With the boom already attached to the sail, you simply slide the mast up the luff pocket of the sail, attach the rig to the hull with the two snap hooks at the main sheet and Cunningham, tension the Cunningham with the pull handle and go! A complete rigging guide will be online on this website very shortly.
No, the O’pen Skiff is manufactured in thermoformed polyethylene, a material that is very resistant to impact shocks and abrasion. Tahe Sport has been building products in this material for over 30 years, and some of these products are still being used on the water! Also of note is that contrary to products built in polyester, polyethylene is a material that is 100% recyclable. The O’pen Skiff is built with the philosophy of sustainable development.
Yes, the cockpit of the O’pen Skiff is 100% self draining, meaning that there is never any water in the bottom of the boat either during sailing or after capsize. Furthermore, with its light weight and stable “chine bilge” design, even when the sailor is in the water the hull turns immediately into the wind, re-rights easily and provides a stable platform for getting back into the boat. Getting back in is easy via the stern of the boat which is completely open (hence the name O’pen Skiff).
Yes, as long as he weighs less than 200 lbs (the ideal sailor weight for the O’pen Skiff is 130 lbs).
Our testing, and the action photos and video of the O’pen Skiff on our website, show that the boat is still stable with 2 kids onboard providing that their total weight does not exceed 200 lbs.
Contact Shoreline Sailboats for more information or to purchase your O’pen Skiff:
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One-Design Class Type: Dinghy
Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Youth
Approximately how many class members do you have? 500
Photo Credit:
Photo Credit: Maggie Foster
The O’pen Skiff Class focuses more on enjoyment and improvement than just race results. The O’pen Skiff Class uses unconventional and innovative formats that are unique. This is what to expect at an O’pen Skiff “Un-Regatta” https://youtu.be/155-4sy5dM0
Boats Produced: 10,000
Class boat builder(s):
Tahe Outdoors/BIC Sport in Vannes, France
Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 2,400
Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:
All regions except Alaska.
Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? No
How many people sail as a crew including the helm? 1-2
Ideal combined weight of range of crew: 80-130 lbs
Boat Designed in 2006
Length (feet/inches): 9’0″
Beam: 3’6″
Weight of rigged boat without sails: 100 lbs
Draft: 1’6″
Mast Height: 13′
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THE INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR SKIFF
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For the 2023/24 season, internationally.
It’s a growing fleet with exciting prospects for the future. Hosting some of the best Regattas in the world with some of the most competitive fleet racing and the only class to introduce fun events such as the “freestyle”. There is now over 7000 boats Worldwide Sailed in 15 different Countries. O’pen Skiff strives to maintain its high standard of racing but also emphasises the “fun” factor into all its Regattas.
A quickly expanding fleet, producing sailors of all calibre from the racer to the explorer. With well over 700 boats in Australia and New Zealand the popular Class is proving a favourite.
“The O’pen Skiff is a fantastic boat for young sailors to experience the joy of sailing. It is fast, exciting and fun to sail yet simple to rig and maintain. Many of the skills learnt in the Bic will be easily transferred to other boats as sailors evolve and progress onto other forms of sailing.” Sir Russell Coutts
The 2015 World O’pen Cup held at Safety Beach Sailing Club in Melbourne from 27th December – 3rd January was a huge success, with wind and weather that gave a wide variety of sailing conditions, 130 sailors coming from 8 countries… The regatta was all action in true O’pen Skiff fashion, and will live long in the memories of the young competitors!
Click here to see more of the action from the 2015 World Open Cup
As an association our vision…
The Australian International O’pen Skiff Association will lead the development of our young sailors by ensuring the O’pen Skiff class offers quality regional, state, and national competition while retaining a strong foundation of fun, adventure and friendship among the sailors and their families.
Upcoming events on the O’pen Skiff Calendar.
Do you want to develop the class at your club? If you think the O’pen Skiff would suit your club and you would like more information on how to get involved contact the AUS O’pen Skiff Association and find out about holding an Open day for your club.
Looking for somewhere to try an O’pen Skiff? If you are interested in sailing an O’pen Skiff. There are are a number of clubs around the country that are sailing O’pen Skiffs. Click here for all current Clubs.
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But every o’pen skiff sailor enjoying the sport for a lifetime..
“ I strongly believe that the Bic is the best boat I’ve ever sailed because it is challenging and it has a skiff shape hull, which gives it astonishing speed. I know, the Bic is an incredible boat and is loads of awesome fun. David, Avalon Sailing Club
“ I’ve now got friends from all over the World because of the International Competition. Kristen (13 years)
“ I love my Bic as it’s fast and you don’t have to bail it. I got my own Bic when I was only five! Breanne (8 years)
“ I love that I can’t damage my Bic as they are really strong. I can’t imagine sailing any other boat! Travis (10 years)
A modern and planing hull, more in the form of a skiff, The O’pen Skiff gives a dynamic responsive fast sailing experience of a true dinghy that heels. A powerful boat that provides kids the same excitement normally experienced on a boat as adults.
With its 6-foot Open design, including a totally open self draining stern, it offers fast fun. Young sailors are fully independent on the water and will be proud to sail such a modern-looking and elegant boat, one that both sails and looks like the boat of today’s champions.
Speed comes close to the Laser 4.7. Good sail and boat trim is rewarded with fast planning on all points of sailing, especially surfing waves downwind
The ideal weight for a user of this boat is 30 – 65 kg, but it can accommodate up to 90 kg.
Car-top transport is easy. Rig and foils fit in a bag under the hull. The O’pen Skiff is unloaded, rigged and ready to race in less than 10 minutes.
The O’pen Skiff is an outstandingly fast sailing dinghy specially designed for kids to have fun in sailing.
Recognising the skiff like performance of the boat enables exciting new race formats like slalom, adventure racing, and opencross freestyle.
The O’pen Skiff class attracts a wonderful group of kids. They are well spoken, polite and caring of each other’s well being. The class is absent of the intense rivalry and friction that creeps into other classes from time to time.
Fun and mateship predominates amongst our young sailors.
The O’pen Skiff class is a family friendly, fun atmosphere and sets a standard to discourage any intense rivalry or unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Our graduates are used to a wet boat, a fast boat and are capable of handling a wide range of wind conditions.
The transition to this class is easy as it’s a single handed, single sail, wet boat, often capsized, with very familiar sail controls, and it has good depth of youth competition. A number of the 2013 & 2014 seniors in the O’pen Skiff have already bought into this class and are competing strongly.
The look and the speed make the 29er a natural aspirational boat for the O’pen Skiff sailor. It is a more challenging boat with its 3 sail rig, trapeze and two-handed configuration. Introducing O’pen Skiff sailors as crew works.
This pathway is available in some states where there is a strong club representation. Ex Australian O’pen Skiff winner, Tom Grimes, stepped into F11’s in 2013, with immediate success.
This leads our sailors into the recognized, international youth class used in many school and clubs.
Again the wet, speed and look characteristics of the O’pen Skiff have a high fit with competitive windsurfing classes. A number of the experienced young sailors onto boards with confidence.
Ph. 1800 730 997
If you require more information please contact us.
The O’pen Skiff, with its modern and powerful rig, is a fast boat, quick to respond, self-bailing, and is fitted by the best marine hardware manufacturers (North, Ronstan, Robline). The O’pen Skiff is THE link between the Optimist generation and the new generation of sailing dinghies. Launched in 2006, the O’pen Skiff has already convinced more than 7000 young sailors around the world. They love the fun they can get out of it, its capacity to react fast and its prowess. An ISAF international class is also very active for those who enjoy competitive racing.
Email: [email protected] Phone: 1800 730 997
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The 2016 O’pen BIC World Championships 2016 took place from 18 to 23 July at the ENVSN (National Sailing and Water Sports School) at Quiberon in France. This World Championships was the biggest in the history of O’pen BIC, which celebrated its 10th birthday this year. 205 competitors from 15 different countries raced from 18 to 23 July.
The National Sailing School in Quiberon has pulled out all the stops for this competition, with the local Comite Departemental de Voile de Morbihan in charge of the actual organization, managing to get nearly 50 members to volunteer their help on land and water for the week.
58 brand new O’pen BIC boats have been rigged up and made available to those competitors flying in from the far flung corners of the planet. Alongside the sizeable French, German and Italian delegations, there are bigger teams this year from Japan, United States, plus Poland and Great Britain which are represented for the very first time. Saturday 23 July
Sun high overhead, 8 – 14 knots of wind, beautiful sea . . . Tip-top conditions for this final day of competition which saw 3 new champions crowned at Under 13, Under 16 and Under 19 level. At midday, the wind starts to lift and the O’pen BIC fleet takes to the water for their last chance to sail the beautiful Baie of Quieron. Surprise and clarity are the buzz-words for the new/final day’s racing.
In the Under 13s, it’s all a bit too difficult for the French youngsters, the highest placed is Enael Rio in 5th. Among the true Breton locals Victor Samson Le Priol, from the Club Nautique Arradon can do no better than 12th. So it’s an overseas podium, with Australia taking 1st and 3rd in the person of Travis Wadley and Talia Bulstrode. In 2nd place is the young German Lennard Morgan Frohmann, who actually had a training holiday at the ENVSN this Spring that has clearly paid off handsomely.
In the Under 16s an incredibly tight overnight situation means an intense day for all concerned and everything to play for right to the final round of racing. In the end the young man from Arradon, Titouan Petard, seals his excellent week’s results with the title of Under 16 World Champion, a fair reward for his season-long effort on the French O’pen BIC tour. Australian Kristen Wadley chases him to the line for 2nd place, and in 3rd is Theo Michez, another French sailor from the very strong Club Nautique Arradon.
In the Under 19s, the best placed French racer is the Breton from La Trinite sur Mer, Doran Gouron-Le Roch, who comes close but eventually finishes in 3rd place. Ahead of him, American Lars Von Sydow in 2nd and, making her the Under 19 World Champion 2016, the Czech girl, Veronika Zivna.
OVERALL RANKING U13 1. Travis WADLEY (Australie)2. Lennart Morgan FROHMANN (Allemagne)3. Talia BULSTRODE (Australie)
U16 1. Titouan PETARD (France)2. Kristen WADLEY (Australie)3. Theo MICHEZ (France)
U19 1. Veronika ZIVNA (Rep. Tcheque)2. Lars VON SYDOW (Etats-Unis)3. Doran GOURON-LE ROCH (France)
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I am considering a proposal to get some for our youth sailing program to augment the Optis we already have. There seems to be a gap between the Opti and the Sunfish and certainly between the Opti and Laser. This looks like a good bridge especially since it will accept the sail rig from the Opti. http://www.openbic.com/
Not sure what "gap" exists Rick. Our youth program starts with the Sunfish year one. Then a lot of us loan our sloop rigs for years two and three, mostly Flying Scots with a couple of Thistles and Highlanders(mine included). The Bic is an intersting boat though. But the dinghy also caught my eye.
Yeah, although I'm sure I'm not their 'target' market. Two years ago the builder had two of them on Spa Beach at the St Pete sail show. He said to just take one out because he wanted people to see the boat sailing. So I did. I give it a thumbs up. Even my slow-ass fifty-sum year old reflexes failed to tip this thing over. It was WAY light air so I never had the gas to really push it but I bet it'd be a HOOT in a breeze. It's very simple, but that's a good thing. I thought it was decent bang for the buck (I forget the number) and certainly the build is hanging on for a few years. I'd consider it. If this is for the kids you might find a good stitch and glue plan and let the kids build a fleet. They'd REALLY take ownership and you might save a few bucks. I dunno, just thinkin'.
Gap We start them at 7ish in Optis and by the time they are 9 or 10 they have not quite aged out but have "cooled" out the "baby" boat. Most of them are not yet large enough to right a Sunfish and a Laser is still too hot a boat for them. The Bic sounded like a good transition. So we can keep them intrested and competitive all the way up to the 420.
Bic Price They list for $2,999 we may get a deal buying them for a program and buying a few of them. West Marine carries them and does offer somthing of a break through Port Supply. I'd prefer to go through a local dealer than a national chain although our WM is very supportive of our program. I am sure there is a program deal for schools and clubs but have not gotten that far yet.
Rick... Our club's Junior Sail Program uses Opti's, Sunfish, and Lasers as the progression of training for the kids. We have two 15 foot sloop-rigged centerboarders as move-ups to head/main boats. We're running sailing camp weeks for the better part of the summer using this fleet. Each region of the country seems to favor different one designs, but ours seem to be the most common used here on the Chesapeake. Give our website a look: www.neryc.com
Opti, Sunfish, Laser / 420 10 year old boys want somthing sexier than an Opti and we lose them to other activities or interests. We have a couple of Hobie Waves as well but are not part of our instruction program. We just started a website: http://ecsasailing.com/
I watched a skilled boy about the target age you describe sail an Open Bic in a mixed fleet (420's / Sunfish / Laser) regatta in St. Augustine last fall in hiking required conditions. While the conditions were such that he did flip at one point, the boat was sized such that he was able to right it without assistance. I am a US Sailing Licensed Instructor and have taught JR sailing so I certainly say if your club has the resources to add a few extra boats to help bridge the gap you see go for it.
Rick Webb said: I am considering a proposal to get some for our youth sailing program to augment the Optis we already have. There seems to be a gap between the Opti and the Sunfish and certainly between the Opti and Laser. This looks like a good bridge especially since it will accept the sail rig from the Opti. http://www.openbic.com/ Click to expand
If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of O'PEN BIC. Built by Melges Performance Sailboats and designed by undefined, the boat was first built in 2006. It has a hull type of Dbrd. Dinghy and LOA is 2.74. Its sail area/displacement ratio 36.23. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.
O'PEN BIC has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about O'PEN BIC and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.
Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, contributions, who builds o'pen bic.
O'PEN BIC is built by Melges Performance Sailboats.
O'PEN BIC was first built in 2006.
O'PEN BIC is 2.19 m in length.
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12.67 ft / 3.86 m. Sailboat Links. Builders: Melges Performance Sailboats. Download Boat Record: Notes. Displacement is hull only. Name changed in 2019 to O'pen Skiff. Photo courtesy of Adam Hunt.
The O'PEN Skiff, or O'pen Skiff, is a sailing dinghy that was designed by Vitali Design of Italy for children's sail training and as a one design racer.It was first built in 2006. [1] [2]The design is a World Sailing international class. [3]The boat was originally marketed by the manufacturer as the O'PEN Bic, but was renamed the O'PEN Skiff in 2019. [1] [2]
The O'pen Skiff celebrated its 10th birthday in 2016, along with the production of its 8,000th boat. Designed specifically for juniors, the little dinghy has blown a big breath of fresh air through our sailing world, close to the new-generation skiff concept, very fast and very simple. 100% open, self-bailing, rapid and responsive, with an up-to-date versatile rig, the O'pen Skiff offers ...
View and Download BIC Sport O'pen BIC user manual online. O'pen BIC boat pdf manual download. Also for: O'pen skiff 4.5, O'pen skiff 3.8. ... • If the wind is over 10 knots: apply maximum tension to the Cunningham = allow the sail to open in the gusts = gives you more control. Visual checkpoint: the leech of the sail starts to become loose.
The O'pen Skiff Class (formerly known as O'Pen Bic) uses a sail boat designed by Tahe Outdoors France (formerly known as Bic Sport). O'pen Skiff hulls, hull appendages, rigs and sails are manufacturing controlled. O'pen Skiff hulls, hull appendages, rigs and sails shall be built by a manufacturer licensed by Tahe Outdoor France ...
100% open, self-bailing, rapid and responsive, with an up-to-date versatile rig, the O'Pen Skiff offers kids a machine that delivers maximum fun while helping them learn the skills and reflexes to enjoy racing on current, high-performance equipment. Features: East to rig-- no shackles or complicated rigging systems on the O'pen BIC.
The ideal sailor weight for the O'pen Bic is 130 lbs. but two kids can easily sail together as long as the combined weight does not exceed 200 lbs. In case you're wondering (we know you are) if an adult can sail the O'pen Bic, they can as long as they don't exceed 200 lbs. (This upper limit did not stop my brother Darren, though.)
The O'pen Bic is a planing dinghy with a hull made of thermoformed polyethylene, a carbon and fiberglass two-piece mast, and an aluminum boom. The target audience for the O'pen is kids who need a transition boat between the Optimist and a 420. ISAF has recently granted the boat "Class Status" recognizing the one design fleet worldwide.
The Open Bic is already an International Sailing Federation (ISAF)-sanctioned class, and fleets are developing around the US. Another bonus: Its an easily portable boat that can be carried like a windsurfer, adding excitement to a Sunday picnic at the beach. The thermo-formed polyethylene hull is a modified hard-chine design with lots of beam aft.
Also, the boat begs the new sailor to hike. Kids new to sailing have a natural inclination to stay within the confines of some hull designs. The O'pen Bic's design allows for the freedom to slide to the high-side as a kid's comfort level grows naturally. What about the rig? The O'pen Bic can be rigged and on the water in less than 2 ...
The O'pen Bic, often simply referred to as the Open Bic, is a single handed sailboat designed for younger sailers. Developed by Vitali Design, the boat was launched in 2006. It is an International Class, as recognized by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). The ideal weight for a user of this boat is 30 kg (66 lb)-65 kg (143 lb), but it can accommodate up to 90 kg (200 lb), making ...
In practical terms, this means that the O'pen BIC name printed on the sail, hull, and rig components will change to O'pen Skiff over the 2019 season. All equipment remains identical and strict ...
Description. Shoreline Sailboats is proud to offer the O'pen Skiff (formerly known as the O'pen Bic) sailboat.The hull of the O'pen Skiff was designed with fun sailing as the priority.It is a modern boat where the hull is as open as possible, thereby leaving the helmsman completely free to move around and trim the boat to any wind and water conditions.
The aim of the International O'pen Skiff Class is to provide an exciting format of international and national dinghy sailing for young sailors. The steady annual growth of the Events' Calendar is proof that the Class's formula of providing exciting race formats on an attractive boat is a great success. At present there are over 10 ...
About O'pen Skiff Class. The O'pen Skiff Class focuses more on enjoyment and improvement than just race results. The O'pen Skiff Class uses unconventional and innovative formats that are unique.
The O'pen Bic has been used at American Yacht Club for nearly 10 years. It is a plastic, modern, single-handed boat that is designed with fun in mind.. It has an open transom and is fast both on and off the water. It's single sail can be rigged up in under 2 minutes. The O'pen Bic comes with a monofilm sail that is 4.5 square meters in size.
A modern and planing hull, more in the form of a skiff, The O'pen Skiff gives a dynamic responsive fast sailing experience of a true dinghy that heels. A powerful boat that provides kids the same excitement normally experienced on a boat as adults. With its 6-foot Open design, including a totally open self draining stern, it offers fast fun.
The 2016 O'pen BIC World Championships 2016 took place from 18 to 23 July at the ENVSN (National Sailing and Water Sports School) at Quiberon in France. This World Championships was the biggest in the history of O'pen BIC, which celebrated its 10th birthday this year. 205 competitors from 15 different countries raced from 18 to 23 July.
Mar 28, 2010. #1. I am considering a proposal to get some for our youth sailing program to augment the Optis we already have. There seems to be a gap between the Opti and the Sunfish and certainly between the Opti and Laser. This looks like a good bridge especially since it will accept the sail rig from the Opti.
80 sailors came from as far as Thailand, Switzerland, and St. Vincent to Augusta Sailing Club Augusta Sailing Club's unsurpassed southern hospitality and O'pen Skiff "Un-Regatta" culture exploded into a frenzy of fun, and a passion for sailing, at the 2024 O'pen Skiff North Americans. Posted on 28 Apr Record breaking 2024 NZ O'pen Skiff titles
If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of O'PEN BIC. Built by Melges Performance Sailboats and designed by undefined, the boat was first built in 2006. It has a hull type of Dbrd. Dinghy and LOA is 2.74.
This Dacron Bic sail is made to the shape of the current larger 4.5 square meter sail. We use velcro flip flop batten tension adjusters for simplicity and longevity. Fits the class sail battens but BATTENS ARE NOT INCLUDED. B45SRD Price: $449.99 Sale price: $249.99. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE!
O'Pen Bic. This product is discontinued. Please click here to see alternative product selections. PRICE. $3,295.00. OVERSIZED SHIPPING. The hull of the O'pen BIC was designed with fun sailing as the priority. It is a modern boat where the hull is as open as possible, thereby leaving the helmsman completely free to move around and trim the boat ...