FLYING DUTCHMAN 



Chosen as one of the five Olympic classes in i960 and again for 1964, 

 the i9'io" (6.05 meter) Flying Dutchman, like the 5^0-5, is a very exciting 

 boat to sail and extremely fast v^hen planing. It is no boat for children 

 or neophytes. After World War II a group of prominent Dutch yachts- 

 men aided by some internationally known helmsmen, with the help of de- 

 signer U. Van Essen, worked out the prototype of the Flying Dutchman. 

 In a series of races in the Netherlands in 1952, against competitors from 

 seven diflPerent countries, the new boat came out on top. The International 

 Yacht Racing Union officially recognized the class first for inland waters 

 and later without that restriction. 



There are now about two thousand Flying Dutchmen in thirty-five coun- 

 tries, including five hundred in the United States. An International Flying 

 Dutchman Class Association has been organized, of which the United 

 States Honorary Secretary-Treasurer is Oliver P. Alford III (St. Michaels, 

 Md.). Principal sailing areas are Australia, South Africa, South America, 

 Mexico, Canada, Germany, Holland, Belgium, England, Italy and elsewhere 

 on the Mediterranean, Norway, New Zealand. Also there are boats on the 

 East and West Coasts of the United States, in Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, 

 Texas, the Great Lakes region, and Florida. The World Championships in 

 1962 were held at St. Petersburg, Florida. 



Builders are found in various parts of the world, including the United 

 States, where there are also importers. Since there are too many to list 

 here, it is suggested that those interested communicate with the Secretary- 

 Treasurer (above) or consult Yachtings Boat Owners Buyers Guide. Con- 

 struction materials have no restrictions, but are generally plywood or fiber 

 glass. 



Mr. Alford points out that "the tremendous shoulder and long easy run 

 allows the Flying Dutchman to 'get on top of the bow wave' rather than 

 trying to push it. Use of the trapeze enables the crew to place their weight 

 advantageously." The official pubfication of the U. S. Flying Dutchman As- 

 sociation is called The Trapeze. We are told that it is possible to get the 

 Flying Dutchman planing to windward. 



The enthusiastic Mr. Alford disagrees with those who consider the Flying 

 Dutchman suited mainly for the experts, and writes: "It will respond to 

 the expert and give to him the ultimate in speed, but fundamentally it is 

 a big flat-bottomed boat that is very easy to sail, and one that does not 

 have any tricks. The big genoa jib is very difiicult to handle in a high 

 wind, but I turn the kids loose with a small working jib with excellent re- 

 sults. Advance Sailboat Corporation, Parkville, Missouri, is building a Fly- 



82 THE SAILBOAT CLASSES OF NORTH AMERICA 



