INTRODUCTION 



This part of the book is an attempt to include a description and some in- 

 teresting facts in the history of each of the principal racing classes of sail- 

 boats in the United States. Consequently, Vv^e are devoting more space to the 

 classes with a history, such as the Comets, Stars, and Snipes, than we are 

 to some of the smaller and more recently organized classes. 



While some classes seem to go on forever, such as the Star class (for 

 which more boats were built in 1961 than in any previous year), many 

 classes, like old generals, just fade away and are replaced by new ones on 

 the racing circuits. Every year, especially since the recent sailing boom, 

 new classes come into being; some will undoubtedly take to the water while 

 this book is on the press. We hope, however, that we have "caught" the 

 important classes and even some which only seem destined to become im- 

 portant—in prestige, like the Shields class, if not in numbers. As William H. 

 ( "Bill" ) Taylor of Yachting said, after being kind enough to go over my list : 



"I found a lot of class names I never heard of, naturally. Probably there 

 are some missing which I should have remembered. And I am sure there 

 are a lot neither of us have thought of that ought to be included, and their 

 admirers will raise hell. But it's a good list." 



Explanation of Class Descriptions and Terms. While most of the following 

 will be obvious to experienced yachtsmen, it seemed best to insert here a 

 few explanations. 



1. Addresses of Associations and Class Secretaries. Many of these change 

 from time to time, though some of the larger associations with paid Secre- 

 taries continue at the same address year after year. Communications to the 

 Secretaries noted here will in most cases be forwarded to a succeeding 

 Secretary. The Boat Owners Buyers Guide, published annually at one dollar 

 by Yachting (205 East 42nd St., New York 17, N.Y. ) includes a list, "One- 

 Design and Class Boats," in which addresses of Secretaries and builders 

 are brought up to date yearly. 



2. Builders. Where there are no more than several builders for a class, I 

 am including here their names and addresses. If there is a long list I refer 



INTRODUCTION I9 



