Sailing Games - Optiball

Optiball:  Set up two gates opposing each other using two anchored buoys per gate as end zones.  Set the gates so that boats sailing between them are on a beam reach.  Organize your sailors into two equal teams, and place a fifth buoy with no line or anchor attachment and put it in the middle of the playing field.  Sailors may take the buoy in their boats for up to 10 seconds at a time before tossing the buoy into open water (hopefully in the direction of a teammate), and the same sailor may not pick up the buoy until another sailor has picked up the buoy first.  Crossing the opposing team’s gate scores a point.  The other team then starts with the buoy, moving it in the opposite direction.  This is a great opportunity to develop teamwork, teach racing rules, and have a lot of fun!