Like the Stars, the Comet has a hard-chine hull and was among the 

 earhest of the sailboats which would plane. The Comet has fared very well 

 in the intense competition among small-sailboat racing classes for public 

 attention and has ranked high in several recent feature articles about the 

 most popular sailing classes in the United States. That this popularity will 

 continue seems likely in view of the strong organization behind the Comets 

 —the Comet Class Yacht Racing Association, with fifteen regional branches, 

 including those in the Pacific Northwest, Puerto Rico, Ohio, and many on 

 the East Coast. Miss Mary C. Swaine (Pleasant Points Farm, Royal Oak, 

 Md. ) is Corresponding Secretary at the time of writing. 



The hull may be of wood or fiber glass. While all the basic features of a 

 one-design class have been adhered to, there have been modernizations of 

 equipment and material from time to time, including approval of fiber-glass 

 hulls with flotation material. 



There are many builders, the names of whom can be obtained in Yacht- 

 ings Boat Owners Buyers Guide or from the Corresponding Secretary, who 

 also sells plans at fifteen dollars. 



Some famous yachtsmen have raced Comets: Roger and Warner Wilcox 

 (Comet Class National Champions in 1935 and 1937, respectively). Bob 

 Lippincott ( International Star Class Champion in 1950 ) , "Bus" Mosbacher 

 (famed skipper of Weatherly in the 1962 America's Cup races). Bob Mos- 

 bacher (winner of the 1958 Men's North America Sailing Championship), 

 Andy Schoettle and Harry Sindle (members of U. S. Olympic Sailing 

 Teams). Price of new boats is about $1400 in fiber glass. 



VITAL statistics: L.O.A. 16'; waterline 14'6"; beam 5'; draft with 

 centerboard down 3'; sail area 130 sq. ft.; weight not less than 300 lbs. 



COTTONTAIL 



Designed and sold by Holiday Yachts (Centerport, Long Island, N.Y. ), 

 the Cottontail is a 16-foot fightweight planing fiber-glass sloop ( or catboat ) 

 which is said to be very fast. The builders claim that she has been clocked 

 at 20 knots when planing. There are now sixty in the United States and five 

 more outside. Robert F. Matteson ( Box 756, Center Moriches, N.Y. ) is the 

 class Secretary. The Cottontail Association was formed by the Babylon 

 Yacht Club during the fall of 1959. Since then the Cottontail has become 

 popular in various parts of Long Island, New York, and recently a new or- 

 ganization was formed at the Cleveland Yacht Club, Cleveland, Ohio. 



RACING CLASSES 51 



