North Haven Dinghy

 

 

 

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One-Design Class Type: Dinghy

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both

Approximately how many class members do you have? 50

About North Haven Dinghy

The North Haven Dinghy is the oldest continually raced one-design sailboat in America. In 1887, in the waters of Penobscot Bay, Maine, a girl named Ellen beat two fellows named Charles — all racing boats of identical design — and these Dinghies have been competitively sailed each summer ever since. The Dinghy is a 14’5″ gaff-rigged catboat with a wineglass stern and large rudder. You sit low in the water in these boats. The fleet remains concentrated in Penobscot Bay, where close to 100 Dinghies have raced at a time. Currently, there are several dozen of these classic boats in active use with competitive races throughout the summer months. The Dinghy has a simple elegance that makes them easy to sail… and tough to master.

Interested in getting a feel for version 1.0 of one-design American sailing? Our class association makes these boats available to the public. Learn more at https://nhdinghy.org

Design

Boats Produced: 200+ on record


Class boat builder(s):

J O Brown and Son Inc manufactured the most recent batch of Dinghies at the turn of the millennium.


Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 30+ actively sailed


Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

Penobscot Bay, Maine


Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? No



Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  200-400, depending on the breeze


Boat Designed in 1887



Beam: 4’10”


Weight of rigged boat without sails: 875


Draft: 1’3″ board up, 3’4″ board down


Mast Height: 14’6″