one design catamaran

ONE DESIGN CENTRAL

Where to go for everything one design, what is one design sailing.

One design is a form of racing where all boats are virtually identical or similar in design. Class-legal boats race each other without any handicap calculations, start at the same time, and the winner is the first to cross the finish line.

There are more than 200 actively raced one design classes in the U.S. The classes range from eight-foot Optimist dinghies to the 12 Meter sailboats, J/105, Farr 40s, and more.

One design classes are broken down into fleets that are located at various locations like, yacht clubs, sailing centers and other organizations. Club or fleet racing takes place on a regular basis all over the country, and many fleets welcome newcomers. Contact your local sailing organizations to get involved in one design sailing and ask for the name(s) of the fleet captain(s).

US Sailing One Design Next Gen Sailor Survey for the Under 30 Sailor

Assessing Sailing Trends of the Next Generation. The One Design Committee of US Sailing has launched a survey to determine baseline information for sailors primarily between 18 and 30 years old. We are hoping to identify trends within sailing and the wider industry including use patterns, activity levels, and attitudinal responses.  This will also allow US Sailing to better understand the trends of gender and racial diversity within sailing. Everyone under 30 years of age is encouraged to participate. The Survey is Closed, Results to be posted late February/March 2023

US Sailing One Design Classes and Sailor Tracing Survey Results 2022 Survey results release February 2, 2023- Click Here

List of Classes that responded to the classes survey: Click Here

TEST RULE 18 - Learn more here CLICK HERE TO HAVE YOUR CLASS TAKE PART IN THE TEST

Subscribe to The One Design Line e-newsletter

New to sailing, news & resource center, one design awards, one design racing, class selector, class finder, fleet finder, fleet/class support, social resources, sailor resources, e-newsletters: od line, one design experiences, member benefits, contact the one design committee, one design class leaders - stay connected with us sailing, update class leadership contact information here, one design class calendars.

One Design Events

How to add events to the us sailing calendar, add your od class event *, us sailing approved world or north american class championships, is your class event on the "approved" us sailing list check below., pursuant to world sailing regulation 25, us sailing board of directors is authorized to grant approval for world and or north american  championships being held in the united states. to learn more, scroll down to sailor resources, and select u.s championships, olympics, world events or, click on the "sailor resources"tab on the right sidebar., approved world or na events list click here make sure you select the sheet that represents the correct year.  *please note- national championships do not need to be filed with us sailing, just world or north american events being held in the u.s.a., don't see your class event listed, have a class leader or event host file an event with us sailing: https://form.jotform.com/73543790646162.

To be updated monthly

• Stay informed by subscribing to The One Design Line, a NEW e-newsletter for One Design Sailors and Classes

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One Design Sailing Awards

US Sailing recognizes One Design achievements through the One Design Sailing Awards.

One Design Awards include:

John H. Gardner Jr. Trophy for One-Design Service and Leadership, One-Design Club Award, One-Design Regatta Reward, and One-Design Creativity Award,

To learn more about each award and submit a nomination today click the link below:

US Sailing Awards

NOMINATION PERIOD March through mid-November, each year with winners announced in early January of following year.

2023 Nominations now CLOSED

Are you new to sailing?

The right sailing program for you might be just down the street!

Dinghy (Small Boats)

Dinghy sailing is a simple, inexpensive way to get started in the sport in small boats. The fundamental basics of sailing are most easily learned in dinghies. Many dinghies are designed for both youth and adults though some, like the Optimist, are designed specifically for youth sailors.  Dinghy sailing can provide a lifetime of enjoyment through recreational and competitive sailing. Generally, dinghies are under 22 feet in length. They include a wide assortment of designs that typically have centerboards or daggerboards. Because of their size and simplicity, many dinghies can be sailed by just one, two, or three people.

Learning to sail is part dream, part great instruction, and part hands-on experience. Most youth start sailing in dinghies many adults do too! Many youth and community based sailing programs offer learn to sail courses for adults in small boats.

LEARN TO SAIL - DINGHIES

2022 One Design Award Winners Announced click here

The One Design Awards. From left: Eric Bussell, Kathy Dryden, Chris Wright, Rob Bowden. Not present: Kristen Zillman for San Diego Yacht Club

LEARN MORE ABOUT the US SAILING ONE DESIGN SAILING AWARDS

2023 NOMINATIONS now CLOSED

Browse our Where to Sail map for listings of sailing schools, yacht clubs, and community sailing centers near you.

Where to Sail

Small Keelboat

If you are looking to learn how to sail on a more stable platform, small keelboats might be the way to go for you. This type of boat has a weighted keel that counter-balances the force on the sails. US Sailing Accredited Keelboat Schools offer up to seven levels of courses where you can accumulate skills and experience with each level of certification. This Learn to Sail Certification Program starts with Basic Keelboat and progresses on to whatever level you choose. Having a US Sailing Keelboat Certification may make it easier for you to rent or charter a boat, but it will give you the ability to sail with confidence.

Not every learn to sail location is a US Sailing Accredited Keelboat School. Ask if they offer learn to sail courses on small keelboats.

LEARN TO SAIL- KEELBOAT

WHERE TO FIND A KEELBOAT SCHOOL

Class News and Resource Center

Share timely news, resources, and content from your class association across all classes on One Design Central. This area is NOT meant to be used for regatta specific information; event recaps, press releases.

Types of Shareable Content for posting:

• Best practices
• Equipment updates
• Class rules updates
• Human Interest story
• Tips/Help/Support
• Online Symposiums
• Measurement updates/seminars
• World Event, Rally, Sailing Festival

Please send your published content to [email protected] with URL so we can post and link back to your class website or Face Book page.

We know you are running and organizing great regattas for your classes! Thank you for serving the sport. However, this space is NOT for regatta/event recaps and press releases.

Put US Sailing on Your Email List: [email protected]

Need to Update Class Leadership Contact list with US Sailing? CLICK HERE

COMING SOON! One Design Boat Grant, Loan, or Lease to Own Programs Listing!

US Sailing One Design Next Gen Sailor Survey for the Under 30 Sailor - RESULTS to be Presented during the 2024 US Sailing National Sailing Programs Symposium and shared with Class Leaders.

• Assessing Sailing Trends of the Next Generation. The One Design Committee of US Sailing has launched a survey to determine baseline information for sailors primarily between 18 and 30 years old. We are hoping to identify trends within sailing and the wider industry including use patterns, activity levels, and attitudinal responses.  This will also allow US Sailing to better understand the trends of gender and racial diversity within sailing. Everyone under 30 years of age is encouraged to participate. READ MORE
• SURVEY CLOSED: September 1, 2023
• Results to be presented during the US Sailing National Sailing Programs Symposium - February 1-3, Savannah, GA. Be onsite for the results, Register Today https://nsps.ussailing.org/
• Results will be shared with class leaders in February.
• US SAILING 2022 ONE DESIGN SURVEY RESULTS PRESENTATION released February 2, 2023

Club Team Racing Gets Its Due- Article:  Sailing World by Gary Jobson May 16, 2023

• Peter Keck, One Design Sailing Champion Crowned at the 2022 Championship of Champions October 9, 2022 Shore Acres Yacht Club, Brick, NJ Read More
• World Sailing Looking for Classes/Fleets/Clubs to Test new Rule

[email protected] .

• Are you a One Design Class Leader looking to share information or learn from other class leaders? Our US Sailing One Design Class Committee created a Facebook group where is it easy to ask questions and share ideas and/or challenges with others who have similar perspectives as you.
• This group is private and by invitation only. Invitations are being sent to the lead administrators for all US Sailing member classes.
• It is a World Sailing requirement to file the event with US Sailing. CLICK HERE

https://youtu.be/dP-qe1jjGJo

Competition naturally results when sailors and boats get together in the same place and sail around each other.  It is normal for a sailor to want to test his or her skills against other sailors.  The way to do that is by racing.  For one design sailors, there are many options when it comes to formats for racing.

Are You New To Racing?

Check out this great presentation for beginner racers by chris snow:.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14vGdC9AjSz9gJpWyJ5hV86QD0Ri7OSfd/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=105375812249044831950&rtpof=true&sd=true

Fleet Racing

Fleet Racing is a type of racing in One Design classes where all boats of the same type race against each other at the same time on the same course. The winner of a One Design fleet race is the boat who crosses the finish line first.

More Fleet Racing information to follow as page is built out- a redirect link to a Fleet Racing page will be placed here.

Team Racing

Team Racing is a type of racing where one team (comprised of two, three or four boats) competes against another team in the same kind of One Design boat.  The team who wins the race between the two has a lower combined score than the other team using low point scoring (first =1 point; second = 2 points; third = 3 points, and so on).

LEARN MORE ABOUT TEAM RACING

Match Racing

Match Racing is a type of racing between two One Design boats.  It is one boat vs. the other boat.  The winner of the race is whichever crosses the finish line first with any or all obligations/penalties satisfied.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MATCH RACING

Adaptive Racing

Adaptive Racing may also be referred to as Para Sailing, and is for sailors who have a disability (physical, vision-impaired, intellectual, cognitive, etc) who are participating in an event with other sailors with a disability.  Most of these races take place in One Design boats that have been adapted for the sailor to aid independent operation of the boat.  Many of these races take place at events that include clinics.  Para Sailors may also be found racing in "Open"  events against able-bodied sailors.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADAPTIVE RACING

Ratings Racing/Portsmouth Yardstick

Ratings racing is a type of fleet racing and is typically done by a fleet comprised of a variety of one design boats.  This may be a great solution for an organization or location that doesn't have enough of any  single kind of one-design boat to create its own fleet but when grouped together can form a combined fleet.

Portsmouth Yardstick is  ​one of the most widely used handicapping system.  It is based on average historic performance data  ​of a class to assign a "rating" to each One Design boat in the fleet. The Portsmouth Yardstick is a handicapping system that allows multiple classes of one designs and other smaller boats to sail on the same starting line and race course with corrected time results. The winner is determined by the formula provided in the rating rule.

US Sailing has partnered with the RYA to create a more robust platform for Portsmouth Yardstick Racing using the PYOnline platform.

The new PYOnline platform is exclusively for US Sailing member organizations. PYOnline will produce updated ratings for each class after a day or event of sailing.

Key Advantages:

• PY Online streamlines submitting race results digitally, with the potential to update ratings on a daily basis.
• Each Club has their own portal in PY Online allowing local updates to specific classes for better racing based upon local conditions.
• The ratings will become more accurate over time, ensuring that competition stays fresh on the water. This means no one boat or class is guaranteed a win or loss based upon ratings alone.
• US Sailing will update the national ratings for a given class on an annual basis, based upon the ratings used by the individual clubs.

Portsmouth Yardstick racing becomes better, more robust and more fun with more clubs and sailors participating. Please consider adding a mixed fleet racing event or series to your calendar. Contact [email protected] with any questions or to discuss how PYOnline can help your organization.

SIGN UP FOR  PYONLINE

What you need to know aoout the New Portsmouth Yardstick Online. A Q/A with Nathan Titcomb.

CLASS SELECTOR:

A phase ii build out feature that is currently under construction., what class is right for me.

This section will provide sailors with an interactive tool to help sort through various one design classes by answering a few questions. It will enable sailors to find a boat that best meets their needs. Please be patient as we work on this feature.

As we build this out, the search will filter through information based on a series of questions on things like:

• Youth or Adult
• Total number of crew
• Physical stature
• Spinnaker/non
• and other search options

Wianno Senior

Weta Trimaran Class of North America

Sail and Kite Boards

Land and Ice Boat

Nite Iceboat

Radio Controlled

Need to edit your class page? Just send an email to: [email protected]

Don't see your class listed above? Ask your class administrator to fill out the form below:

SUBMIT CLASS PROFILE

FLEET FINDER

THIS FEATURE IS BEING UPDATED - Thank you for your patience as we work on this site.

Are you an experienced sailor looking for a place to get out on the water?

If you are an experienced sailor, you may find yourself traveling or looking locally for a place to race or just go sailing. Visit our FLEET FINDER SEARCH to see what class fleets are close to home or near to where you might be traveling.

Don't see a class fleet represented, reach out to your class administrator and have them contact: [email protected] to learn how they can add fleets to the Fleet Finder Search.

This page is continually being updated with new additions of fleets, so check back regularly.

FLEET FINDER SEARCH

WHERE TO SAIL ONE DESIGN

Class Governance Resources

• Certified Race Officer Insurance.  US Sailing extends its commercial insurance for the benefit of US Sailing’s certified race officers, certified judges, and certified umpires, and to non-certified officials acting as volunteers for US Sailing (collectively referred to as Certified Race Officials (CRO)). Each specific scenario determines if US Sailing’s insurance is primary, excess, or does not apply.  Learn More
• SafeSport -  SafeSport training is a free online course that provides education and certification on sexual misconduct, emotional and physical misconduct and understanding your responsibilities around mandatory reporting. Learn More
• Ten Commandments for Successful One-Design Management by Gay Lynn

Race/Regatta Management Resources

Whether you are running an event for the first time or an experienced event planner, US Sailing has the tools to help you succeed.

REGATTA MANAGEMENT

• Regatta Management Planning Manual
• World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing 2021-2024
• US Sailing Prescriptions RRS 2021-2024
• US Sailing Regulations - amended February 22, 2021
• Individual U.S. Championship Conditions can be found on the specific championship webpages
• Code of Conduct  Last update- 2017
• Coaching and Support Boat Policy
• US Sailing 2021 - 2024 Hearing Decision Form - Formerly, Protest form used by Protest Committee
• Using Regatta Network part one (5 minute tutorial)
• Using Regatta Network part two (3 minute tutorial)
• Yacht Scoring
• Club Spot/Regatta Toolbox
• Organizing a Great Regatta
• Five Tips for Regatta PR Success by Doug Wake
• Race Management Tips for the Last Day by Jeff Johnson
• Conduct of Championships by Clark Chapin
• The Great Event - an Interview with Phil Richmond, Regatta Chair Extraordinaire
• Find a Race Official  (Race Officers, Judge, Umpires, Classifiers, Measurers at all levels- Club, Regional, National, International)
• Become a Race Official
• Race Committee 101  is a New US Sailing training program that provide an overview of race committee functions for those who are interested in learning more.
• Race Participation
• Participation

Fleet Support

• Start Small with Big Ideas-Starting a New Sailing Club
• How A Boat Grant Program Works - International Lightning Class Association
• Fun is the Key by Dave Irish
• Different Strokes – A Trophy for Fun by Ron Schauble
• Ten Commandments for Successful One-Design Management  by Gay Lynn
• Racing Rules Book Club Article by Clark Chapin

We are in the process of collecting articles and information that will help a broad spectrum of one design classes and fleets with the topics listed above. If you have an article or information that you can contribute to this section, please send it via email to:

[email protected]

Safety Concerns

US Sailing is committed to fostering a fun, healthy, and safe environment for all sailor athletes.

• Covid-19 Resources
• SafeSport -  SafeSport training is a free online course that provides education and certification on sexual misconduct, emotional and physical misconduct and understanding your responsibilities around mandatory reporting
• Life Jacket Association -COVID-19 Virus: Cleaning & Storing your Life Jackets
• MTI Lifejackets - COVID-19: Recommended Methods for PFD Sanitization
• Traveling with your Inflatable Lifejacket
• Cold Assessment Reference Card- Hypothermia
• US VHF CHannel Information

US Sailing Facebook One- Design Forum

• Are you a One Design Class Leader looking to share information or learn from other class leaders? Our US Sailing One Design Class Committee created a private group on Facebook to share best practices, learn from others and grow your class.
• This group is private and by invitation only. Invitations are being sent to the lead administrators for all US Sailing member classes. We have created a place where is it easy to ask questions and share ideas and/or challenges with others who have similar perspectives as you.
• Class leaders will have the opportunity to invite another class member to the group once the initial emails have been sent.
• Please note that you must have your own Facebook account to join a group.

Rules Related Topics

What you need to know about APPEALS

2021-2024 US Sailing Prescriptions

Dave Perry's Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing Products

• Sampling of Dave Perry's Rules Quizzes

Rules Related Publications

• US Sailing 2021 - 2024 Hearing Request Form Formerly, Protest Form

Tools for Organizing Your Team:

Crew Manager Providing a boat website with features the skipper and crew will use throughout the sailing season. https://crew-mgr.com/

CrewSignUp Enabling crew members to indicate their availability and you to select who will race. http://drapers.us/crewsignup/

Phlotilla Providing an extensive set of crew / team management tools. https://phlotilla.com/

RailMeets Bringing crew and captains one click closer. https://railmeets.com/

RegattaBoard Crew Finder - Short Notice https://www.regattaboard.com/

SailConnect Helping everyone spend less time organizing and more time on the water. https://sailconnect.com/

TeamSnap Taking the work out of play. https://www.teamsnap.com/

Crew Medical & Health Insurance - Specialized health insurance with worldwide overage for professional sailors, coaches, instructors, Olympic team members, collegiate sailing athletes, paid crew/captains, and international cruisers who are members of US Sailing.  Learn More .

One Design Insurance Program.  Specialized insurance for one-design boats under 30-feet. Can be purchased online.  US Sailing members may be eligible for a10% discount.   Learn More .

Tuning Tips

Content to follow - under construction

Calibrating Your Rig On The Fly

• Tuning Your Boat for Performance by Chris Snow
• Finn Gybing with plenty of breeze on! 30 Knot Gusts!
• Steering in waves
• Finn Pumping explained by Ben Ainslie ,
• Steering in waver
• Finn tacking tips
• Light wind sail trim/speed training Fin Club Holland
• Dinghy Academy: Finn free pumping in 20 knots, a hard day at work...

Tactics & Strategy

Content under construction

• North U is offers live and on-demand webinars on tactics and sail trim. US Sailing members are being offering special pricing on these sessions. Visit the North U website and use promo code  USS20NU  to save 25% and gain access. The North U Trim Webinar is a series of 4 sessions. Purchase individual sessions at $30 each (regularly $40) or all 4 session for $108.75 (regularly $145).
• Youth Racing Central - US Sailing Members Only Feature- Login with your member ID and password- Youth and Adults Welcome

Youth/Adult - Learn to Sail- Getting Started

First Sail Opportunities/Locations

First Sail Locations

• Small Boat Instructor Programs
• Keelboat Instructor Programs
• Teach Sailing the Fun Way for Instructors
• Safety as Sea - Our Safety at Sea experts set high standards for the most authoritative and proven methods for keeping sailors safer while they enjoy the sport. Countless hours of research conducted by our dedicated volunteers have allowed US Sailing to provide instructional materials, publications, courses and seminars that are made available to all interested sailors. These educational opportunities include our widely popular Safety at Sea Courses.

One-Design Event Calendar (add your class events here)

Us sailing one design calendar, learn how to add your class event to the us sailing od calendar- click here.

*Membership with US Sailing required to access this feature through a "My US SAILING" account - Join/Renew Today

U.S. Championships, Olympics, World Events

• What Are My Options
• 5 US Sailing Youth Championship Events
• 10 US Sailing Adult Championships
• Hosting a US Sailing Championship
• Three Planning Calendar
• US Sailing Area Map and Representatives
• Olympic Development Program
• Filing World Events with US Sailing - https://form.jotform.com/73543790646162
• Check to see if your event has been add- CLICK HERE
• *National Class Championship Events do not need to be approved through this process.

ATTENTION - N.I. E. Applications no longer a required travel document for Entry to U.S.A.

On November 8, 2021, at 00:01, Presidential Proclamation Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-⁠19 Pandemic goes into effect.   All previously issued NIEs are void as of this date regardless of stated validity.   

You can find out more about the new travel requirements  here.  Travelers can check what COVID documentation they will need  here.

This change eliminates the National Interest Exemption process for upcoming regattas/events in the US.

Stay Healthy - Fitness and Training

• The Starboard Portal Fitness Friday with Sailing Performance Training CLICK HERE scroll down to the Fitness Section on the page for a complete list of videos. Tune in for live classes each Friday.

Sailing Workout Plan: The 15 Best Home Exercises for Sailors - YouTube

Fitness Top Tips with Finn Sailor Andrew Mills - Pumping Iron with the British Sailing Team - YouTube

E-Newsletter

The one design line archived issues, archived editions of the one design line:, issue no. 01 - july, 2020, issue no. 02 - september, 2020, issue no. 03 - october, 2020, issue no. 04 - november, 2020, issue no. 05 - december, 2020, issue no. 06 - february, 2021, issue no. 07 - may, 2021, issue no. 08 - june 2021 - team racing, issue no. 09 - july 2021 - special olympic edition.

*If you have an idea for a future edition of The One Design Line   send an email to: [email protected]

To subscribe to the One Design Line e-Newsletter, fill out the quick form at the top of the One Design Central webpage.

One Design Experiences with  

My class, my story : the comet.

'One sailor’s Deep connection to his beloved one-design class serves as an example of why we sail the boats we do.'

By Dave Reed

We all have it: that human fascination with the new. Even the cereal I’ve been eating for years is now “new and improved” (which makes we wonder whether Quaker has been selling me an inferior breakfast all these years). I digress. Our curiosity is for new, new, new, all the time. New boats, new races, new classes, new experiences — you name it. We fill our social media feeds, our websites and even the pages of this magazine with new things. And while we’re all so focused on the new, it’s easy to ignore the older classes, boats and fleets that the majority of racers hold near and dear. Click here to continue reading.

If you are interested in submitting a My Class, My Story article, contact: [email protected]

My Class, My Story ARCHIVES

• My Class, My Story: Interlake by Erika Seaman
• My Class, My Story: The Day Sailer by Erika B Seamon
• My Class, My Story: E-Scow by Rachel Beers
• My Class, My Story: The Comet by Dave Reed
• My Class, My Story: DN Iceboat by Pete Pierce
• My Class, My Story: The Ensign by John Cutler

US Sailing Member Benefits

To access these and other member benefits, please log into your My US Sailing account and click on Member Coupons and Benefits on the sidebar.

• Membership with USSA provides sailors opportunity to the appeal process
• U.S. and World Championship eligibility
• Education and Training - Access to US Sailing Programs
• US Sailing Store - Save 25% (certain restrictions apply) Member- only pricing on US Sailing products including publications from the US Sailing Store
• Safety at Sea Training - US Sailing Members can use the following promo codes for discounts on Safety at Sea items in the  US Sailing Online Store : SAS5  – $5 OFF Safety at Sea:  Coastal (Units 1-5) Online    SAS5  – $5 OFF  Safety at Sea: Offshore Upgrade (Units 11-15)   SAS10  – $10 OFF  Safety at Sea: Coastal Upgrade (Units 6-15)    SAS10  – $10 OFF  Safety at Sea: Coastal Online Plus  Safety at Sea: A Guide to Safety Under Sail and Personal Survival     SAS25  – $25 OFF  Safety at Sea: Offshore (Units 1-15) Online
• Boat US -10% of water towing services. Access your MY USSAILING account for discount code and sign up online at BoatUS.com/join  or call 800-395-2628.
• Cabrinha - 20% off the retail price of any Cabrinha product. Visit https://adventuresportsusa.com/   log into your MY USSAILING account for the discount code to redeem your exclusive member benefit.
• US Sailing Team Athlete
• US Sailing certified Race Official
• Getting started is simple and free. Go to www.expertvoice.com/us-sailing  and sign up. Questions? Contact ExpertVoice Partner Services  [email protected]
• Fell Marine - Wireless Kill Switch (MOB+ Wireless Man Overboard System and Products). Members save 15% off – Log Into your MYUSSAILING Account to access coupon code and visit  Fell Marine .
• Gill - 10% off - US Sailing Members get  10% off Gill access your MY USSAILING account for discount code. Visit gillmarine.com  for online purchases or show your valid membership digital card at Gill’s Flagship store in Newport (364B Thames St. Newport, RI) to recieve 10% off your purchase in-store.
• Hobie Polarized : Save 25% off the retail price of Hobie Polarized Sunglasses. Log into your MY USSAILING Account to access coupon code and visit: www.hobieeyewear.com
• Landfall Navigation - $15 Off - Log into your My USSAILING Account to access coupon code and visit Landfall Navigation’s website and  register and checkout as a Landfall member . It is completely free to register on their website.
• McLaughlin - 15% off any items on  Optistuff.com excluding boats, sails and clearance items. Optistuff.com represents much more than just parts of the Optimist Dinghy. You can also purchase parts for a Laser, I-420, C420 and sailing apparel. Log into you MY USSAILING Account to unlock promo code.
• PerkSpot - sailors looking for product discounts
• Portsmouth Yardstick- Popularly used to rate centerboard boats, smaller keelboats, and multihulls. Portsmouth Yardstick is often used for local fleet races around the country. Learn More
• Reaching Ahead Mental Performance (RAMP) Training Program - Train your mental game to perform more consistently on the racecourse! For only $12 per month, access a new module each month from Dr. Tim Herzog’s Reaching Ahead Mental Performance (RAMP) training program. As long as you keep the subscription, you will have access to every module that’s been unveiled! As a US Sailing member, get the first month free. Log into your MY USSAILING account for coupon code and details.
• Safe Lakes Life Cords - US Sailing Members receive 10% off Safe Lakes Life Cords . Log into your MY USSAILING account for coupon code and details. Sail1Design - Sail1Design’s Job Board  is available to US Sailing members at a 15% discount. Setting up your listing by  creating a membership  with Sail1Design and  login to your account . Add your US Sailing member ID to your Sail1Design member information profile. Once this is automatically verified, you will see new Career Center and Marketplace posting/pricing categories appear.
• SailorsHealth Insurance - Gowrie Group offers US Sailing members access to the SailorsHealth Insurance Program which is a creditable, annual health insurance plan brought to you by GeoBlue. This best-in-class annual health insurance plan features worldwide coverage, domestic coverage, prompt access to doctors and hospitals, English speaking customer service, paperless claims, and more.
• SailFlow - Save 30% on SailFlow Plus or Pro memberships or purchase a bundled package including the WeatherFlow Wind Meter and a free one year SailFlow Plus Membership for $34.99. Visit SailFlow’s website to redeem.
• Sailing World and Cruising World - Special Member Pricing $15/1 yr Because of our strong partnership with Sailing World and Cruising World, US Sailing has secured the lowest subscription rate offered anywhere. US Sailing members pay only $15.00 for a year-long subscription to either publication. Take advantage of this discount when  renewing online  or call our office at 401-342-7900.
• SeaTactics offers US Sailing members discounted registration for courses. Log into your MY USSAILING account for coupon and details.
• Waterway Guide - All US Sailing members receive 25% off any Waterway Guide print publications. Visit Waterwayguide.com and log into your MY USSAILING account for coupon.
• Weems & Plath - 10% off all products online. Shop Weems & Plath online and access the promo code from your MY USSAILING account.
• Zim Sailing - EXCLUSIVE 10% OFF EVERYTHING at  ZimSailing.com . That’s 10% off sails, spars, parts, gear, dollies, and even clearance items. Log into your MY USSAILING Account to unlock coupon code.
• One Design Insurance Program - Specialized insurance for one-design boats under 30-feet. Can be purchased online.  US Sailing members may be eligible for a10% discount.   Learn More .
• The Burgee Program - Club and Organization Insurance. The only comprehensive insurance program developed to meet the distinctive needs of yacht clubs, community programs, and sailing organizations.  US Sailing members eligible for a 10% discount on the marine components of the program.   Learn more .
• US SAILING STORE - Save 25% (some restrictions apply) Member-only pricing on US Sailing products including publications from the US Sailing Store
• Nominate you National/North American or World Champion (Must be a US citizen) for the annual Championship of Champions Regatta.
• Promote your One Design Class as the boat used for the Championship of Champions.
• Weems & Plath - 10% off all products online. Shop Weems & Plath online for all your trophy needs and more. Access the promo code from your MY USSAILING account.

JOIN/RENEW TODAY

A Special THANK YOU to the 45 Volunteers From:

• Six Working Parties who took on topics identified from the One Design Sailors and Classes Survey from October 2019
• 62 One Design Classes
• 23 states across the country

It is through your passion, dedication and contributions that we were able to create this interactive webpage for One Design Sailors and Classes.

Copyright ©2018-2024 United States Sailing Association. All rights reserved. US Sailing is a 501(c)3 organization. Website designed & developed by Design Principles, Inc. -->

Most Popular One-Design Sailboats

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

May 23, 2023

‍ Key Takeaways

• A class-legal boats race is for you to compete without special modifications to the boat
• Small boats are typically one-design but some can be up to 30 feet in length
• The two most popular one-design boat brands are Laser and Sunfish
• Each class association is governed by the US Sailing organization
• Youth sailors greatly benefit from one-design classes to help shape sailing skills

‍ One-design class sailboats come in a variety of shapes and sizes. But what are the most popular one-design sailboats?

Popular one-design sailboats include Laser, 49er, I-420, and Ideal 18. Some popular multihull one-design boats are A-Cat, Isotope, and Hobie 16. Various one-design boat brands will cater to specific races and sailor’s needs in order to provide the best experience.

In my experience the Laser is one of the popular one-design brands in existence due to its rich history and sailors loyalty to the brand. Many other brands are right up there with it in terms of quality and performance.

Table of contents

‍ Top 15 Popular One-Design Sailboats

One-design sailboats are an international class of boats meant for solo sailing and racing. One-design racing incorporates virtually identical boats and some of the popular brands today have the best representation of the design class.

The Laser is the most popular racing dinghy across the world. It is a one-design sailboat they use in Olympic regatta and other world sailing events. There have been over 200,000 of these sold worldwide and they feature three rig setups to accommodate anyone that enjoys dinghy sailing.

The 49er is another sailboat that is considered among the best of world class racing sailboats. This small sailboat is a double handed skiff and requires that you have plenty of skill to handle it. The popularity has exploded since its debut in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The I-420 is a one-design class sailboat that is sailed around the world. It is commonly used in sailing schools and clubs for sailors that want to hone their skills as a dinghy racer. This boat is classified as an Olympic Development Class for all athletes trying to join the Olympics.

If you are wanting a blend of high performance competitive sailing without being too difficult then the 470 is the perfect boat. This incredible boat was introduced in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and is still currently used today for many of the races for design classes in the Olympics. These boats are used for the men’s and women’s double handed racing.

A popular one-design keelboat is the Ideal 18 that requires skill rather than any special rigging to win a race. It is one of the easiest boats to rig and is best for single handed sailing. You can use either a roller furling jib or self tacking jib to accommodate your sailing needs.

The A-Cat is part of the International A-Class and is an international developmental class for multihull one-design sailboats. It is 18 feet in length and is regarded as one of the fastest dinghy sailboats in existence. They mirror the quality used in the America’s Cup and are used in many races across North America.

Another one-design multihull that many sailors are switching to is the Isotope . This one-design class is a registered Formula 16HP class boat. At just 16 feet it is one of the fastest one-design multihulls out there.

The Hobie 16 is a one-design multihull sailboat that is one of the most iconic sailboats. It is in the Sailing Hall of Fame and is easy to sail. Sailors have loved this boat for over 45 years with over 100,000 sold worldwide.

The 29er is the younger sibling to the 49er one-design sailboat. This boat is a bit more advanced and perfect for youth that are wanting to take the next step up to the 49er. It has a race class devoted to it and is a great alternative to the Laser series if you have difficulty finding one.

A one-design boat that is geared towards a variety of uses does not get any better than the J/30 . It has the appeal of a racer cruiser and can accommodate all different types of sailing experience. This is perfect for those that want to race but not be tied down to limited options on the boat.

For youth that need a great starter one-design boat the Nacra 15 is a perfect option. It is a semi-foiling multihull that requires teamwork and is perfect for those that are building up the skills to one day be in the Olympics. At just under 16 feet it offers the ease of transportation anywhere the water is available.

The Atlantic is a classic one-design sailboat that is 30 feet in length and is fast. It has a keel and offers stability while remaining fast on the water. For nearly 100 years this 30 foot one-design has been at the top of its class.

Catalina 22

The Catalina 22 was one of the first boats inducted in the 1995 Sailboat Hall of Fame for good reason. It helped revolutionize the trailerable sailboat market and is a great one-design boat for sailing. It is great for the entire family and can be passed on for generations if taken care of properly.

A popular one-design sailboat that typically needs three or four people to sail is the J/22 . Hundreds of J/22 boats have sailed over the years since it was used in the 2004 Olympics. Its design allows it to remain competitive against older boats due to the strict one-design class.

The most iconic one-design sailboat out there is arguably the Sunfish . There are over 500,000 Sunfish boats around the world since the 1950’s and are used in roughly a thousand races a year. The beauty of this one-design is that it can be used as a racing boat or for casual day sailing.

Why One-Design Boats are Used for Racing

Sailing has been primarily used over the course of history to ship goods across waterways. Over time designs changed and people were interested in seeing who was faster than one another.

This led to the design of racing sailboats and were first used in the 1800’s in Greece. Fast forward over 200 years later and there are thousands of boats racing across the world in various competitions.

One-design boats are not only meant for racing and can be used for daysailing depending on the brand. If you want to be on the same playing field and for everyone else to do the same then one-design boats are ideal.

Need for Speed

There is a unique feeling when you see another sailboat just like yours and you have the itch to race it. This has always been a driving force behind racing and it is fueled by sailors that have a competitive outlook.

One-designs are meant to allow your skill shine and not the boat aiding in your ability to win. Dinghy sailing are boats that are under 20 feet and are typically handled by less than three people.

Importance of Design

One-designs are a balance of sport and comfort. Some boats are geared entirely for racing but there are plenty that balance perfectly as a daysailer and a racing boat.

Many will also have keels to provide added stability. A small keelboat is great for those wanting to have a bit more stability if they have a fear of tipping over in the water. Small keelboats are also great for those that are new to sailing and require a little help remaining stable.

Best for Training

If you are an inexperienced sailor or you want your kids to lean how to sail then one-design boats are the best option. Since these design classes all have to be similar depending on the boat length it is easier to learn on these than another type of boat.

This allows youth to easily adapt to the boat without being too overwhelmed or discouraged. It also helps if you start out on a one-design boat and then move up to a more advanced boat with a similar skill set needed to operate it.

In addition you can try out different types of one-design sailboats without having to buy one. This will allow you to get your feet wet with yacht clubs or other solo sailing organizations and have fun trying new boats.

What are One-Design Races?

One-design sailing is where an event of racing takes place and all of the boats that are competing are identical or very similar. The reason that these boats are nearly identical is so that no one competitor has an edge based on their boat rigging or any other special influences.

These races are entirely based on skill with minor help from the boat you are using so that everyone gets a fair shot. Everyone starts at the same time and the first to go across the finish line is the winner.

There is an estimated 200 or more one-design race classes around the US and vary in boat length from eight to 40 feet. These races are narrowed down among various racing organizations and clubs across the world.

Different Types of One-Design Races

There are many versions of one-design racing that sailors can join. This all depends on your experience or potentially a club that you are a part of. In the Olympics you will also see various one-design races.

Match races are quite common among one-design sailing. This is where two sailboats are of the same design or very similar are competing against one another to determine a winner.

The only major difference between the two boats sailing against each other is the crews on board each boat. Depending on the experience of the crew will greatly affect the outcome of the race.

Arguably the most common one-design racing is fleet. This is where either a small handful of boats or even up to 100 at a time can compete to cross a finish line in a given location.

These are great because you have a lot of sailors starting at one spot at the same time in very similar or identical boats. This is the same setup used in the Olympics and is why it is the most common race type.

Sailing clubs are great for building experience and camaraderie among your sailing peers. These can vary on one-design use but most will outline exactly what type of racing is going to be conducted.

These typically use various forms of racing types or one-design sailboats depending on location. In addition you can race to be the best of your club and earn a trophy.

Team racing is a bit different than other races that deliver a winner as soon as they cross the finish line. These are usually a few one-design boats with a few people on board and will award points to those teams depending on how they finish the race. The team that has the lowest amount of points after each race is the winner and it will require a few races to determine a winner.

Regatta races can vary based on location and will use different types of one-design sailboats. These races typically last a few days and will need teammates if the event is geared towards a team event. Most people enjoy regattas since they offer one of the best social interactions lasting a few days.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to travel hundreds of miles or sail for days on end to reach a destination first then offshore one-design sailing is right for you. These races require extensive knowledge in order to remain safe. They typically have one-design requirements so that everyone is on the same playing field.

If you have disabilities and still want to enjoy sailing then paralympic sailing competitions are right for you. These are one-design sailboat races meant to handle skill and can accommodate to anyone attempting to sail.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Sail1Design

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November 30, 1999 by Sail1Design Editor Leave a Comment

The Tornado was designed in the autumn of 1967 by Rodney March from England, with help from Terry Pierce, and Reg White, specifically for the purpose of being the new Olympic Catamaran, which was to be selected by the IYRU in an Olympic Catamaran Trials. The boat was developed mainly in Brightlingsea, England.

International Status was granted to the Tornado as a result of its outright winning of the IYRU Trials held in England. The next step, adding the Catamaran event to the Olympic program, occurred two years later, with the result that the first Catamaran event, sailed in 1976 in Canada, was sailed in the Tornado. The Tornado is an outstanding example of a class that was designed specifically for Olympic competition that has become a successful International class on its own merits.

2000 Olympic Silver Medalists: Darren Bundock and John Forbes (AUS)The Tornado has since remained unchallenged as the ultimate one-design catamaran. With its modern, stylish rigging and sleek lines the Tornado is quick to catch the eye of any water-drawn on-looker as it speeds across harbors, lakes, and oceans in over 30 countries around the world. With its ability to reach speeds of 15-18 knots upwind and downwind, and 33+ knots reaching, the Tornado is truly the purists’ speed machine.

Over 4,800 Tornados have been built, with 1,200 class association members worldwide. In 2004, on the Saronikos Gulf in Greece, the Tornado will be sailing in its seventh Olympic Games.

Except for refinements in technical details – improvements in hull, sail, and spar technology, better blocks and lines – the Tornado was unchanged from its beginnings in to the early 90’s. Then, as a result of the increasing popularity of other, smaller catamarans, the Tornado class undertook a major development program in 1993. It was specifically to respond to a request from the IYRU to search for ways to improve the public and media awareness of the sport of yachting, and secondarily to answer the possible challengers to its ‘top cat’ role.

Two weeks of intensive on-the-water testing and development took place in Miami, following considerable discussion and planning. Among the participants were the three medalists from Barcelona as well as designer Reg White. The International Tornado Association spent nearly US$22,000 on the testing, evaluation, reporting, and finally balloting process to the class membership, to find the fairest and best ways to improve the class and the sport in ways acceptable to the sailors.

The testing involved 10 standard and fully competitive Tornados, one boat with a larger main and jib, and two boats with a variety of sailplans that included spinnakers of up to 32 sq. M. Fourteen races were run over the testing period in addition to in-line speed and handling evaluations.

As part of the testing process, new courses were also used, most involving a leeward gate.

Following the testing and regatta, the following points were clear; the larger main/jib combination was only marginally faster than the standard rig, and the spinnaker boats were a surprise, only beating the standard rigs in 2 of the 14 races. The ITA then balloted the class membership, with not only the conclusions but also all of the data and the testing procedure, helping to provide insights to the rig selection process.

A two-thirds majority is required by the class constitution to implement any change; this majority was not reached, the class voting against the expense of a change with no real benefit to sailing. Thus the class retained the same sailplan for the next two Olympics. The course changes, giving the possiblity of better spectator access and greater media coverage, received the votes necessary to be adopted by the class.

The Class felt then that the changes in course, rather than changes in the equipment, would have a greater impact on public awareness and media coverage. Courses are adjustable in length for wind, thus giving a fixed racing time for the event, and the shorter-than-before course also tend to keep the boats closer, making the racing more exciting and more easily viewed. The fixed Start/Finish lines also is a help, allowing faster turn-around times between races. The new course formats have been in use in the World Championship beginning in ’93, and have proven popular with both the sailors and committees, and are continued today.

The issue of changes in the boat were revisited in 1999, when the ISAF decided to have a Multihull Evaluation Trials in France to look at “possible replacements” in the Olympic program for the Tornado. At the time, there were a number of technical changes in materials that allowed for better spinnakers, and better control, and there were then a number of successful double-trapeze plus spinnaker catamarans on the market in the Tornado size range – 20 feet – that were becoming popular.

The Trials were interesting. Except for the custom, all-carbon Marstrom 20, the standard Tornado dominated upwind, beating all production challengers from Hobie, Nacra, Mystere, and others. Only by piling on sail area, plus a spinnaker, were any of the challengers able to beat the Tornado around the race course, and even then the advantage disappeared as the wind increased. But the extra athleticism needed to sail with a double trapeze, and the extra visual interest provided by the spinnakers, was undeniable, and the final outcome was that the ISAF decreed that the equipment for the 2004 Olympics would be the “Tornado with double trapeze and spinnaker”, and left it up to the class how to implement the changes.

The class took an approach that allowed some development and testing, with the goal of keeping crew weight in the same range as with the old rig. The final result, approved by the class in early 2001, were both evolutionary and radical. First was a new mainsail with a flat top and more area, providing more heeling moment to compensate for the double instead of single trapeze and help keep crew weights with the same range. Second, done to clear the trampoline to make spinnaker work possible, was to redesign the jib. The new jib had the same area, but was longer on the luff and shorter on the foot to allow it to be sheeted to the main beam. Interestingly, this change, moving the sail area forward, overcame one of the Tornado’s handicaps, tacking, and made this maneuver much easier. The innovation of a self-tacking jib appeared later in 2001, and was quickly adopted by the entire fleet. Finally, of course, there was the spinnaker, and the class set only size limits, allowing the question of spinnaker handling equipment to be settled on the race course. Again, the advantages of spinnaker launching tubes quickly established themselves, and became a class standard. Interestingly, the two biggest boathandling improvements, the self-tacking jib and the spinnaker tubes, were quickly adopted by the classes below the Tornado, especially the International Formula 18, which was becoming the Tornado trainer for future Olympians.

Class website: http://www.tornado.org/

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One Design Catamaran

One design catamaran designed by VPLP for intense and fun sailing. COD25, the Catamarans’ Champions…

This fleet of 8 one design 25′ catamarans (that means all are similar) have been built by Sailing One. For more than 10 years, they have been used for the Clairefontaine Trophy, an annual sailing race sponsored by Clairefontaine, where 8 skippers* battled for 3 days, from long distance treck to regattas.

Based in Lorient in South Brittany, these catamarans are available for match racing training, long distance treck around the Ponant Islands, corporate regattas, speed contests as well as trophy.

Number : 8 boats

Day charter : 4 persons + professionnal skipper Total capacity of 32 crew mates at one time, plus 8 skippers

Characteristics

Architect : Van Peteghem / Lauriot-Prévost Ship Yard : Sailing One Lenght : 7.65m Beam : 4.40m Mast : 14.60m Weight : 750kg Sails area : 92m² downwind Security : coastal Delivery : 40′ Containers

Short distance : coastal sailing Long distance : into pieces in containers delivered by lorry.

Watch the video Clairefontaine Trophy on YouTube… Photo © Jean-Marie LIOT

• 72 skippers, of which 27 foreigners representing 10 countries, have sailed on our One Design Catamaran : Loïck Peyron (height victories), Michel Desjoyeaux (four victories), Franck Cammas (three victories), Serge Madec (firest winner), Laurent Bourgnon (two victories), Alain Gautier, Dennis Conner, Ernesto Bertarelli et Ed Baird (America’s Cup winner), Jérémie Beyou, Yann Eliès, Fred Le Peutrec, Jean Le Cam, Roland Jourdain, Bernard Stamm, Charles Caudrelier, Pascal Bidégorry, Vincent Riou, Nicolas Troussel, Armel Le Cléac’h… and François Gabart, last winner in 2013.

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Pescott Firefly 850 One Design Sailing Catamaran

Pescott Firefly 850 One Design Sailing Catamaran. The Ultimate Fun Machine. Fun, fast, stable, low draft and economical to run….

Designed and constructed from composite GRP to racing specifications. At home in the Australian coastal sailing environment, with many destinations ready to explore. Easy to sail, and in a breeze they are lightning fast speed machines clocking speeds well in excess of 20 knots. Crewed by four or five people. Sleeps four easy.

This 8.5m beauty has raced successfully, and cruised Moreton Bay QLD with a shallow draft of only 0.6m , a spacious beam of 6m, and a displacement of 1000kg. She is a stable, low draft proven sailing cat, powered with an economical 8hp Tohatsu outboard motor giving a speed of 5-6 knots. Layout below decks, port and starboard hulls, both have aft and forward single berths (sleeps four) with mid saloon space for storage.

Pescott Firefly 850 One Design Sailing Catamaran. The Ultimate Fun Machine. Fun, fast, stable, low draft and economical to run…. The Pescott Firefly 850 sailing cat is an excellent family boat for sailing, coastal cruising, island hopping, fishing, diving, surfing and all manner of water sports, or simply just exploring the Australian coastline and inland waterways. This is a fine example of a Pescott Firefly 850, professionally built, well maintained and fitted with an impressive laminate sail wardrobe; always in the hunt for honours. The Firefly 850 One Design (27ft) presents as a stylish, fast, exciting coastal racing or weekend cruising catamaran. There is a fleet in Asia and Australia, with great events. The Pescott Firefly 850 can be trailered, or can also fit into a container for shipping. Trailer not included.

• Download Pescott Firefly 850 catamaran specifications in PDF format.

Please contact us anytime.  Contact

Jim Mob: 0418 368 985

Email: [email protected]

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Catamaran Hull Design

• Post author By Rick
• Post date June 29, 2010
• 2 Comments on Catamaran Hull Design

Part 1: Notes from Richard Woods

Since the America’s Cup experimented with going multihull, there’s been a lot of interest in catamaran performance and the catamaran hull designs that define performance. Many guys are investigating whether to buy a catamaran or design and build their dream boat. Let it be said here that building a large catamaran is not for the faint of heart. People begin building 100s of boats a year, yet few are ever completed, as life always seems to have a way of interfering with a good boat build. 

Never the less, since the rest of this website is about selecting and buying a boat , it only seems fair to have at least one webpage that covers catamaran design. This page contains notes on boat hull design goals and an accompanying page from Terho Halme has mathematical formulas used in actual catamaran hull design. It has become a popular research stop and an important reference to the catamaran design community.

The content of this page was reproduced from the maestro of Catamaran designs, renown British naval architect, Richard Woods, who not only designs catamarans, he sails them across oceans…. repeatedly. He has a lot to say on the subject of catamaran hull design.

“…When it’ all said and done, the performance of a sailing catamaran is dependent on three primary specs: length, sail area and weight. If the boat is longer it generally means it’ a faster boat. If she has more sail area, it means she’ a faster boat and if she’ light it means she’ a faster boat.  Of course, there are limits: Too much sail area capsizes the boat in brisk winds. If the boat is designed too light, she will not take any kind of punishment. Too slim a hull design and the boat becomes a large Hobie Cat capable of only carrying your lunch. Of course, too long and large and you’d have to be Bill Gates to afford one. Then there are lot of additional and very important factors like underwater hull shape, aspect ratios of boards and sails, wet deck clearance, rotating or fixed rigging and so on….” Richard Woods

All Catamarans are not equal, but all sailboats have two things in common: They travel on water and they’re wind powered, so the Catamaran design equations in the 2nd part should apply to every catamaran from a heavy cruising Cat to a true ocean racer.

Richard Wood’s comments on catamaran design:

We all know that multihulls can be made faster by making them longer or lighter or by adding more sail. Those factors are the most important and why they are used as the basis of most rating rules. However using just those figures is a bit like determining a cars performance just by its hp and curbside weight. It would also imply that a Tornado would sail as fast forwards as backwards (OK, I know I just wrote that a Catalac went faster backwards than forwards)

So what next?? Weight and length can be combined into the Slenderness Ratio (SLR). But since most multihulls have similar Depth/WL beam ratios you can pretty much say the SLR equates to the LWL/BWL ratio. Typically this will be 8-10:1 for a slow cruising catamaran (or the main hull of most trimarans), 12-14:1 for a performance cruiser and 20:1 for an extreme racer.

So by and large faster boats have finer hulls. But the wetted surface area (WSA) increases proportionately as fineness increases (for a given displacement the half orange shape gives the least WSA) so fine hulls tend to be slower in low wind speeds.

The most important catamaran design hull shape factor, is the Prismatic Coefficient (Cp). This is a measure of the fullness of the ends of the hull. Instinctively you might think that fine ends would be faster as they would “cut through the water better”. But in fact you want a high Cp for high speeds. However everything is interrelated. If you have fine hulls you can use a lower Cp. Most monohulls have a Cp of 0.55- 0.57. And that is about right for displacement speeds.

However the key to Catamaran design is you need a higher Cp if you want to sail fast. So a multihull should be at least 0.61 and a heavy displacement multihull a bit higher still. It is difficult to get much over 0.67 without a very distorted hull shape or one with excessive WSA. So all multihulls should have a Cp between 0.61 and 0.65. None of this is very special or new. It has been well known by naval architects for at least 50 years.

There are various ways of achieving a high Cp. You could fit bulb bows (as Lock Crowther did). Note this bow is a bit different from those seen on ships (which work at very specific hull speeds – which are very low for their LOA). But one problem with them is that these tend to slam in a seaway. 

Another way is to have a very wide planing aft section. But that can increase WSA and leads to other problems I’ll mention in a minute. Finally you can flatten out the hull rocker (the keel shape seen from the side) and add a bustle aft. That is the approach I use, in part because that adds displacement aft, just where it is most needed.

I agree that a high Cp increases drag at low speeds. But at speeds over hull speed drag decreases dramatically on a high Cp boat relative to one with a low Cp. With the correct Cp drag can be reduced by over 10%. In other words you will go 10% faster (and that is a lot!) in the same wind and with the same sails as a boat with a unfavorable Cp. In light winds it is easy to overcome the extra drag because you have lots of stability and so can fly extra light weather sails.

The time you really need a high Cp boat is when beating to windward in a big sea. Then you don’t have the stability and really want to get to your destination fast. At least I do, I don’t mind slowly drifting along in a calm. But I hate “windward bashing”

But when you sail to windward the boat pitches. The sea isn’t like a test tank or a computer program. And here I agree with Evan. Immersed transoms will slow you down (that is why I use a narrower transom than most designers).

I also agree with Evan (and why not, he knows more about Volvo 60 design than nearly anyone else on the planet) in that I don’t think you should compare a catamaran hull to a monohull, even a racing one. Why chose a Volvo 60/Vendee boat with an immersed transom? Why not chose a 60ft Americas Cup boat with a narrow out of the water transom?? 

To be honest I haven’t use Michelet so cannot really comment. But I have tested model catamarans in a big test tank and I know how inaccurate tank test results can be. I cannot believe that a computer program will be better.

It would be easy to prove one way or the other though. A catamaran hull is much like a frigate hull (similar SLR, L/B ratios and Froude numbers) and there is plenty of data available for those. There is also a lot of data for the round bilge narrow non planing motorboats popular in the 1930’-50’s which again are similar to a single multihull hull.

One of the key findings I discovered with my tank test work was just how great the drag was due to wave interference between the hulls. Even a catamaran with a modern wide hull spacing had a drag increase of up to 20 % when compared to hulls at infinite spacing. One reason why just flying a hull is fast (the Cp increases when you do as well, which also helps). So you cannot just double the drag of a single hull and expect to get accurate results. And any speed prediction formula must include a windage factor if it is to give meaningful results.About 25 years ago we sailed two identical 24ft Striders next to each other. They were the same speed. Then we moved the crew of one boat to the bow. That boat IMMEDIATELY went ½ knot faster. That is why I now arrange the deck layout of my racing boats so that the crew can stay in front of the mast at all times, even when tacking or using the spinnaker.

I once raced against a bridge deck cabin catamaran whose skipper kept the 5 crew on the forward netting beam the whole race. He won.

Richard Woods of Woods Designs www.sailingcatamarans.com

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2 replies on “Catamaran Hull Design”

I totally agree with what you say. But Uli only talk sailing catamarans.

If only solar power. You need the very best. As limited watts. Hp.

The closer to 1-20 the better.

Closing the hulls to fit in cheaper marina berth. ?

You say not too close. But is that for sailing only.

Any comment is greatly appreciated

Kind regards Jeppe

Superb article

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Modern Catamaran Trends: Gimmicks or Valid Design Ideas?

The celebrity of the catamaran is not only swelling in racing, but also for cruising catamarans. At their conception, the atypical design enabled cats to sail faster and in shallower waters with less wind and crew than other sailing vessels. But for years the unorthodox design met with skepticism, leaving the catamaran with little commercial success. Additional challenges to adoption of early versions of cruising cats were the small, very cramped interiors by modern day standards, was heavy and lumbering handling abilities. Many sailors used to say they “were built like tanks and sailed like bricks”.

However, sailors soon realized that nothing could beat the comfort, speed, and safety of a well-designed modern catamaran as a cruising yacht. These vessels can achieve the highest speed for the smoothest ride and boast the most interior space and greatest safety of most ocean-going vessels. Sailors of all types are quickly overcoming earlier prejudices against the multihull design as contemporary design trends continue to produce catamarans that are faster, more exciting, more visually interesting, and safer than ever before.

The New Trends

Fun and interesting new trends in catamarans make sailing even more exciting than ever before. However, innovations are only useful if they contribute to good design, construction, and safety principles and it should fit your sailing purposes. Let’s take a look at some trends in modern cats:

1. Larger Catamarans for Fewer Crew

The new generation of catamaran, using modern composite construction and engineering can be built lighter, larger, and more spacious with very good power-to-weight characteristics. Currently, the trend leans increasingly towards larger catamarans. The average catamaran for a cruising couple now tends to be more in the 45ft to 50ft range. With composite engineering and installation of technologically advanced equipment, e.g., electric winches, furling systems, and reliable auto pilot, it is now possible for shorthanded crews to confidently sail larger boats with larger rigs. Technology has enabled modern catamarans’ bigger volume with more stiff and torsion resistant construction, without compromising stability and safety.  

2. Inside Out: Convertible Main Living Areas

The design improvements of convertible living areas not only increases usable space and opens up the living areas, but also reduces interior maintenance and cleaning issues of traditional varnished wood surfaces. An open and convertible main living area with simple, hard-wearing composite materials reduces costs and time required to clean and maintain the boat. Big windows and opening vents allow light in and increase visibility. Gone are the submarine-like claustrophobic cabins typical of most traditional yachts. Owners’ cabins are luxurious, airy, and spacious serving as a very comfortable living space, rather than just a place to sleep. 

3. Wave-Piercing or Reverse Bows

4. Bulkhead Helm Stations or Twin Stern Steering?

However, Gunboat moved the cockpit back under cover in its latest designs, just as Leopard introduced a forward cockpit with opening doors into the leisure-focused salon in their Leopard 44 and 48 models. The team at Catamaran Guru questions the suitability of this design feature for blue water catamarans that will encounter large seas, but nonetheless, it is a popular trend especially for the yacht charter market. 

Ultimately for a cruising catamaran, our preference is a safe, protected helm station with good visibility and all the control lines leading back to the helm to create a static control station. Push-button controlled winches and windlass as well as the instruments and autopilot should be prominently located and protected within the cockpit.  

5. The Flybridge Trend

Getting from the cockpit up to the flybridge and back down in bad weather can prove unsafe. To accommodate the flybridge, the goose neck and boom must be very high making stowing the main problematic. The higher gooseneck position also means that the center of effort is higher which impacts the vessel’s righting moment and is not as good as catamaran with a lower boom position and bulkhead steering. Just where the flybridge design will go is anybody’s guess but right now it has huge appeal for a lot of people. 

6. Hydrofoils and Daggerboards

Because of design innovations like curved daggerboards and the hydrofoils, performance on cruising catamarans has improved tremendously but catamaran speed is relative. The most important benefit of speed of a multihull is the ability to outrun bad weather. Being able to average 2-3 knots faster on a catamaran than on a monohull, can help avoid bad weather. Many cruisers often tell us at Catamaran Guru, “I don’t care about performance,” but its not long before they understand that the heavy cruising cat is not quite as comfortable at sea – AND very slow. It makes no sense to buy a catamaran that will not sail at least 200nm per day when making passage. 

7. Galley Up or Down

In modern catamarans, the most popular trend currently is galley up, making it a focal point of the main living and entertainment areas. When at sea, every meal comes from the galley, so live-aboards spend a lot of time in the galley and many cruising couples and families find that the separation of galley down in a hull is not ideal. When at sea, hauling hot food up and down the stairs is a safety hazard. Having the galley on the same level as the serving area and cockpit is less tiring and safer. Also, ventilation is better on the bridgedeck than down in the hulls, which makes cooking more comfortable, especially if you are prone to seasickness. The disadvantage of the galley up design is less privacy for the cook’s messes and it can significantly impact the size of the saloon seating area, especially on smaller cats.

Some manufacturers like the St Francis 50 and Antares 44 still trust in the galley down design. Galley down is often preferred for charter boats because it provides a private, self-contained cooking area with dedicated prep areas and utilizes space in the hull that might otherwise be less efficiently used. However, the most popular trend is galley up and it makes sense to most sailors, especially cruising couples and families.

More on our take for galleys up or down .

Is Speed and Interior Comfort Trumping Good Design?

• Catamaran stability is a function of beam and buoyancy, so light-weight strong construction, which translates into buoyancy, is a good thing. Typically cruising catamarans have a beam-to-length ratio of roughly 50%, meaning a 45′ long cat will be about 22′ wide. This will not only result in great interior space but also in a very stiff and efficient boat.
• The boat needs to have a robust COG (center of gravity) through good buoyancy fore and aft or waterline length to avoid “hobby horsing”, making for a smoother ride and better performance. Performance is a safety issue; it is always better to have the pace to get out of the way of bad weather. So some speed in reserve is great.
• Good bridgedeck clearance is important for seaworthiness and crew comfort at sea, by reducing slamming and better performance in rough conditions. However, a very high bridge deck clearance, together with, say 6.5ft of headroom in the saloon, the boat will be very high with a lot of windage. So there has to be a balance struck between bridge deck clearance and the height in the salon. A good rule of thumb for bridge deck clearance is to have good clearance is about 5% of overall length of the hull but 6% is excellent. A clearance of 4% is acceptable but on the low side.

Even in the age of computer modeling, yacht design remains a series of compromises and the use of a boat will dictate its visual design and performance characteristics to a large degree. A well-designed catamaran is ergonomic and pleasing to the eye. It should be sensible and safe, with performance that can get to a safe harbor when necessary. It all comes down to safety and comfort, especially in rough conditions.

Looking to buy a yacht? Contact us if you have any questions regarding catamarans for sale , Fractional Yacht Ownership or our Charter Management Programs .

Estelle Cockcroft

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2 thoughts on “Modern Catamaran Trends: Gimmicks or Valid Design Ideas?”

Good reading, informative and to the point. There is no reference to building standards and codes of practice. The Catamaran industry needs to “mature “ as more models and brands enter the market with the consumer paying for the downward spiral. Look forward to your next article.

Hi Gregor, you are right. There is no one uniform set of standards. Most countries have published guidelines, codes or laws that a boatbuilder must follow in order to sell a boat in that country. Some of the better known ones are USCG, ABYC, CE, AS/NZS and ABS. There is a lot of similarity between the different international regulatory bodies but just as many differences. Enforcement of these standards are sketchy. Labels are applied to boats i.e. “in compliance,” “certified” or “classified.” and it all means little if not enforced. In the US, it’s mostly up to the builder to voluntarily comply with the published guidance ( the all do since it’s in their interest). In the European Union, by law a boat has to be inspected, documented and certified. Australia and New Zealand publish their own set of rules. So it’s a miss mash of laws and rules and it’s hard for the consumer to pin down!

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