10 One-Design Class Sailboat Handbook 



keen racing was in boats of fifty feet and over, manned largely by pro- 

 fessional crews. Today the keenest competition is in boats twenty feet or 

 less. Moreover, in contrast to when boating was the sport of the privileged 

 few, the most popular classes now are one-designs. 



The most popular of all one-design classes is the Snipe, a 1 5 1/^ -footer, 

 sailed by a crew of two, and which costs about $1,000 when new. There 

 are more than 13,500 of them throughout the world, with the greatest 

 numbers spread from one end of the United States to the other. Winning 

 the Snipe class world championship is one of the greatest plums in boat- 

 ing and almost anyone can afford to compete. By thus broadening the 

 competition, victory in these small boats is actually more difficult and 

 hence more rewarding than it was for yesterday's owner of a 70-footer 

 to lead a handful of well-heeled rivals. 



Keen racing can be had in even smaller boats. The 11-foot Penguin, 

 a class of thousands around the world, offers excellent competition at a 

 cost of less than $600. These and other sailboats are frequently sailed the 

 year round, even in northern states. The hardy sailors who race in the 

 winter up north are known as "frostbiters" (see Chapter 4 for further 

 details). Of course, some one-designers are better for the beginner than 

 others. For this reason, it's a good idea to talk to members of a class and 

 find out the level of competition of that class before purchasing any craft. 



But the one-design class doesn't have to be raced to have fun. One- 

 design sailors have a wide choice of boats, too. You can find boats suitable 

 for racing as well as day-sailing. But, if you want to comfortably go day- 

 sailing, or if you're a beginner in racing, or especially if you want your 

 family to learn to like sailing, don't pick too extreme a racing type of 

 boat. Buy a one-design boat of the day-sailer type with a comfortable 

 cockpit to sit in, not one where you have to hang out over the rail and 

 make with the acrobatics to keep it right side up. A boat on the heavy 

 and beamy side is better for the afternoon-sailing family, or for the be- 

 ginner, than the ultrafast types. Even though you don't want to race at 

 first, you may later. In other words, with a one-design class sailboat, you 

 can sail for fun and still race in competition if you wish. 



In addition to the racer-day sailer, the one-design principles are em- 

 ployed in the construction of cruising-racing boats. In cruising craft. 



