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 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
ONE DESIGN CLASS CALENDARS
-
One Design Events
-
Add your OD Class Event*
*A USSA Personal or Organization/Class Membership required
-
2023 One Design Class Championships
How to Add Events to the US Sailing Calendar
To be updated regularly
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
Subscribe to The One Design Line e-newsletter
Thanks for subscribing. Please check your email to confirm.
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:
NOMINATION PERIOD March through- October 31, each year with winners announced in early January of following year.
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.
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 2023 US SAILING ONE DESIGN SAILING AWARDS and Nominate HERE
Browse our Where to Sail map for listings of sailing schools, yacht clubs, and community sailing centers near you.
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.
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 OneDesign@ussailing.org 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: OneDesign@ussailing.org
Class News and Resource Center
Need to Update Class Leadership Contact list with US Sailing? CLICK HERE
- US SAILING 2022 ONE DESIGN SURVEY RESULTS PRESENTATION released February 2, 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
- International Measurers Seminar For High-Level Measurers Looking To Go To The Next Level November 18-20 , 2022 at Severn Sailing Association, Annapolis, MD. This Seminar is for high-level measurers looking to take the International Measurers Seminar. Training will include the IM test on the last day that is necessary to become an International Measurer. Details on cost and housing to follow once a group organized. Organizers need at least 10 participants. If interested and available November 18-20 Contact as soon as possible: Chris Howell: chowell@sailingorg.com or Dina Kowalyshyn: dhkhome1234@gmail.com
-
- World Sailing Looking for Classes/Fleets/Clubs to Test new Rule
-
- The WS Racing Rules Committee has commissioned a Rule 18 Working Party made up of international sailors and rules experts to try and find ways to simplify rule 18 without significantly changing the way the game is currently being played. The Rule 18 WP is looking for fleets who would be willing to test a new rule 18 between May 1 and July 15, 2022. Any fleets, clubs, sailing organizations or classes, etc. willing to help the Rule 18 WP by testing a new rule 18, please contact Dave Perry at
davperry@optonline.net.
- The WS Racing Rules Committee has commissioned a Rule 18 Working Party made up of international sailors and rules experts to try and find ways to simplify rule 18 without significantly changing the way the game is currently being played. The Rule 18 WP is looking for fleets who would be willing to test a new rule 18 between May 1 and July 15, 2022. Any fleets, clubs, sailing organizations or classes, etc. willing to help the Rule 18 WP by testing a new rule 18, please contact Dave Perry at
- NEW One Design Facebook Leadership Forum Group
- 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.
- Learn More
- Hosting a National, North American, or World Championship event in the United States?
- It is a World Sailing requirement to file the event with US Sailing. CLICK HERE
One Design Racing
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.
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).
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.
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 portsmouth@ussailing.org with any questions or to discuss how PYOnline can help your organization.
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:
- Location
- Youth or Adult
- Total number of crew
- Physical stature
- Spinnaker/non
- and other search options
Class Finder
Dinghy
Keelboat
Multihull
Sail and Kite Boards
Foiling
Land and Ice Boat
Need to edit your class page? Just send an email to: onedesign@ussailing.org
Don't see your class listed above? Ask your class administrator to fill out the form below:
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: OneDesign@ussailing.org 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/Class Support
Sailor Resources
E-Newsletter
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: DaveReed@sailingworld.com
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.
- Education and Training- Access to US Sailing Programs
- U.S. and World Championship eligibility
- US Sailing Store - Save 25% (certain restrictions apply) Member- only pricing on US Sailing products including publications from the US Sailing Store
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Expertvoice- sailors looking for product discounts
- PerkSpot - sailors looking for product discounts
- Membership with USSA provides sailors opportunity to the appeal process
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 MYUSSAILING Account to unlock coupon code.
- TropicSport - Protect the health of your skin from the sun while protecting the environment and giving back to like-minded organizations. Receive 10% OFF your order when you log into your MYUSSAING Account for access code, then visit TropicSport. Receive 10% OFF your order at check out. 10% of sales will be donated to US Sailing.
-
On Going Offers -
- Gowrie Group Insurance
- 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.
- Gowrie Group Insurance
-
- 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.
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.
Social Resources