Tritons and they race against each other, but I beheve the primary interest 

 in the class is in its cruising capabiHties. There are hundreds of sailboat 

 classes in the United States. They come and they go and no one can do 

 justice to them all, nor is there room to include them all here. 



However, this is more than a book on "The Stars and Snipes Forever," 

 as someone irreverently suggested that I call it. I have tried to include all 

 the classes which are important today or seem likely to become significant. 

 I also have included those which may not be considered important now 

 but which have had an interesting history. For this is not a handbook of 

 racing classes with a mere listing of a few facts about each. It is rather 

 an attempt, when information is available, to go behind the better-known 

 facts and delve into the history of the classes we describe. Why, when, and 

 how did they come into being? What are some of the yarns which are 

 told about them? I am hoping to make this book interesting as well as 

 informative. 



Most of the leading classes have associations, a few with paid secretaries 

 or other executives, and permanent offices run on a businesslike basis. 

 More frequently the secretaries or class managers rotate in office and affairs 

 are run on a somewhat informal basis. These associations play a vital part 

 in class affairs and many a class owes its success to the association which 

 guides it. Besides organizing races, these associations maintain class stand- 

 ards and rules; register boats in the classes, assigning numbers; maintain 

 records of boat owners, fleets, races; answer questions about the class; try 

 to keep everyone reasonably happy; and stimulate social activities of many 

 kinds. I have tried herein to list the association connected with each class 

 and the address of the Secretary or correspondent. As explained in the In- 

 troduction to "Racing Classes: Single Hull," I have suggested ways of 

 obtaining information in cases when secretarial addresses change. 



As the facts regarding the classes included in this book have been ob- 

 tained from many sources and could not be personally checked, I cannot 

 guarantee the accuracy of what is contained herein. I have, however, done 

 the best I could to make the information reliable and have enlisted ex- 

 perienced advice to this end, I shall welcome comments, corrections, and 

 additions which can be taken into consideration in future editions. 



Fessenden S. Blanchard 



23 Robin Hill Road 



Scarsdale, New York 



12 PREFACE 



