Why compare the Tribord 5S to Optimist??
The 5S is aimed at a very wide audience, it is functional, accessible and economical. Thanks to its technical arguments and its very worked out price, a commercial success would attract many new sailors, which would be good news for our sport.
Faced with it, we no longer dare to present the Optimist, it is the learning boat par excellence, you can find it in all sailing schools. What sailor hasn't done an Optimist when he was petit??
It is a rather simple, economical and stable dinghy: essential qualities for teaching sailing.
With its international distribution, the Optimist is also a demonstration of popular and accessible sailing. Since the 50's, this small walnut shell has brought in its wake a whole population of sailors. And this population, according to all sailing federations, is struggling to renew itself.
So if we assume that the Tribord 5S can attract a new generation and popularise the sport, let's compare the 5S to the boat that the current generation arrived in, the Optimist. It is the most widespread sailboat in the world, the most accessible and the most economical, a true popular yacht.
Two boats to start with
To take your first steps in sailing, the Optimist and the Tribord 5S are two very simple and economical dinghies. An Optimist will cost between 2000 euros and 4000 euros and the 5S is available in stores at 2500 euros.
Although the Optimist is more suited for 1 or 2 children, a medium-sized adult will be able to fit in and have a lot of fun if the sea is calm.
As for the larger 5S, it is designed for an accompanied adult, but its ease of use also makes it suitable for a very young audience in solo or double.
Vessel preparation
If the Tribord 5S is stowed in its bags, it will take half an hour to prepare it. If it is already inflated, in five minutes the rigging is in place. On the daggerboards, we install the small wheel axle which serves as a trolley. With Safran in place, we are already ready to head for the beach.
For the Optimist, which has been stored outdoors for a few weeks, a good sponge cleaning is necessary before going on the water, in the end the hull is ready in 15 minutes. We slide the launching trolley under the Optimist and we put the rudders and daggerboard in the walnut hull, and we are also ready to go.
We set up the rigging. The Optimist's, with its sprit, is more complex than the 5S's sail. But thanks to the modest size of the mast, a child alone will be able to rig the Optimist, whereas it will be impossible to do the same with the Tribord 5S, which has a much higher mast.
Launching and leaving the beach.
We put the dinghies in the water, the first thing we noticed is that we will have to move a long way from the beach to install the Optimist's rudder. On the other hand, with the 5S you can get on board and manoeuvre with water only at calf level. This is much more practical and user-friendly.
And finally, getting on board the Optimist is another story. When boarding with water more or less at thigh level, the boat heels over when you get on board.
What's it like "on board" ??
Up to 85/90 kg of skipper, the freeboard of the Opti will be high enough to sail safely on calm water. And then, if a small wave comes on board, the bailer is on station to "empty" the bottom. Let's admit that, once installed (stuck) on board, one can lack amplitude of movement.
The starboard 5S does not have the problem of flooding since it is completely open aft. Its hull, flat and very wide, gives it exceptional stability. Moreover, the absence of a daggerboard in the middle of the cockpit leaves room for a large platform for manoeuvring or settling comfortably.
On the Optimist, when maneuvering, we'll do the same as for toddlers, but with more stiffness in the back. You'll have to lower your head with each tack and gybes. The 5S has a much higher boom to avoid twisting during manoeuvres.
Sailing, who is the most fort??
Admittedly, the Optimist is a walnut hull that is perfectly uncomfortable for an adult, but as soon as the sail is trimmed the pleasure of childhood is regained. We even enjoy playing counter-heel downwind to do like the budding champions. We have fun with the wind, we squeeze it to find the limit, we move away from it to accelerate. Thanks to the shallow draft and manoeuvrability, I'm exploring, as close to the shore as possible, the cove of Penfoulic, our playground of the day.
But I'm having a hard time competing in speed with the young skipper of the Tribord 5S, who with her 30 kg all wet, literally leaves me on the spot. I can hardly admit it, but with my old Opti, I've just been landed by the new generation on the strange 5S.
It was decided to invert the boats in order to (re-establish the family hierarchy) to validate unsurprisingly that the 5S is much more spacious and pleasant for an adult.
At the helm
The Optimist is extremely nervous at the helm. The deep rudder is very responsive and will send the boat tacking at the slightest request. The Optimist is very fast, but may be too fast.
On board the 5S, sailing with the wind on the beam, sitting in the right place and with the sail well trimmed, you can go straight ahead. This is impossible for me, who sits at the back of the Optimist?; as soon as I let go of the helm, I'm instantly facing the wind.
Which dinghy for the holidays in famille??
When it comes time to choose an initiation boat for the family, the outcome of the match gives its verdict.
The 5S is made for a public from 7 to 77 years old, it is a success of versatility. You can sail solo or in a group without major fear of overloading. On board, everything is simple, obvious and functional. In addition, it works well under sail and gives a "gliding" feeling. The price of 2500 euros places the 5S on the podium of the cheapest dinghies on the market. I would add that the 5S is not especially a children's boat, but that it lends itself well to it.
The Opti, too, is the archetype of the versatile and economical dinghy, but given its size, it remains reserved for children. Even if an adult can use it from time to time, it is really very minimalist sailing. The Opti is unquestionably the ideal teaching aid for children, but it is also an international regatta boat. It is the most widely distributed one-design racing boat in the world, with a very high level of competition. These qualities make the Opti the best learning boat for sailing schools, while the 5S is probably the best learning boat for families.
