Dinghy racing is a
competitive small sailboat sport. I am finding out just how
competitive it is! I knew people had sailing dinghies and I
remember my friend with a Force Five beating everyone in
unscheduled
play races on a nearby lake in Orlando. But now I am finding
out the one designs of racing dinghies have regattas and these racing
dinghies are registered and there are international clubs.
The UK has the most racing dinghy classes in the world. They are serious about racing! The other areas that love dinghy racing are the east coast of the US and southern California, Asia, Australia, and South America also are big dinghy racing fans.
At the sailing club were we belong the racing dinghy, the Optimist, has a group of young racers that practice there. These are kids learning to sail and race these boats and they seem to be having a great time and from what I see they are turning into really good sailors. One day I watched as a young lady climbing into her boat had it close hauled, rudder down, and daggerboard set all before she was completely into the boat! This little lady knew what she was doing.
The Optimist is a small, single handed dinghy. Sometimes they put two small kids in one but basically it is to be sailed by one person. This racing dinghy is like a pram. This means it has a flat bottom and is designed and built of reinforced plywood or fiberglass. It is pictured above in the header. It is the perfect boat for beginners. From what I understand the Optimist is the biggest and most competitive young peoples racing class in the world. That is saying a lot!
Dinghies Racing on Sunlit Sea Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
The dinghy I am currently sailing is the Sunfish. It is also a one-design, meaning they all look alike with the same amount of sails, the same rigging, they weight the same, everything is the same except who is at the helm. The Sunfish model of racing dinghies has over 1000 racing events every year worldwide. Some of the reasons the Sunfish is so popular is that it is easy to tow, easy to rig, easy to set the sail and the price is right for most people. You can even add a boomvang and a quick release to help you get the most out of your sail and make tacking easier. This racing dinghy is also easily stored when the day is done. It is a great small sailboat.
Another dinghy racing sailboat is the Laser. It is like the Force Five in that it heels quickly and is very fast. The hull is a racing hull and is design to heel quickly so less of the bottom is in the water and therefore the boat goes faster. The crew must “hike out “ over the side while this racing dinghy is heeled to balance the boat at the right angle to keep it upright and moving quickly in the water. They are fun to sail but you better be in good shape because “hiking out “ requires some good abdomen muscles! This racing dinghy sails like the bigger faster racers. It will get you ready for the big boys!
Racing dinghies is a great way to spend the day. It encourages families and friends to be together to practice sailing and to improve their sailing skills to win the next race. When I am on the water in the Sunfish all I am thinking about is the boat, the water, and the wind in the sails. It is a lot of fun to be with other people doing the same thing and you can hear the laughter on the dock coming from the sailboats as they race by with their colorful sails. Dinghy racing and dinghy sailing are great sports for everyone at every skill level.
The UK has the most racing dinghy classes in the world. They are serious about racing! The other areas that love dinghy racing are the east coast of the US and southern California, Asia, Australia, and South America also are big dinghy racing fans.
At the sailing club were we belong the racing dinghy, the Optimist, has a group of young racers that practice there. These are kids learning to sail and race these boats and they seem to be having a great time and from what I see they are turning into really good sailors. One day I watched as a young lady climbing into her boat had it close hauled, rudder down, and daggerboard set all before she was completely into the boat! This little lady knew what she was doing.
The Optimist is a small, single handed dinghy. Sometimes they put two small kids in one but basically it is to be sailed by one person. This racing dinghy is like a pram. This means it has a flat bottom and is designed and built of reinforced plywood or fiberglass. It is pictured above in the header. It is the perfect boat for beginners. From what I understand the Optimist is the biggest and most competitive young peoples racing class in the world. That is saying a lot!
Dinghies Racing on Sunlit Sea Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
The dinghy I am currently sailing is the Sunfish. It is also a one-design, meaning they all look alike with the same amount of sails, the same rigging, they weight the same, everything is the same except who is at the helm. The Sunfish model of racing dinghies has over 1000 racing events every year worldwide. Some of the reasons the Sunfish is so popular is that it is easy to tow, easy to rig, easy to set the sail and the price is right for most people. You can even add a boomvang and a quick release to help you get the most out of your sail and make tacking easier. This racing dinghy is also easily stored when the day is done. It is a great small sailboat.
Another dinghy racing sailboat is the Laser. It is like the Force Five in that it heels quickly and is very fast. The hull is a racing hull and is design to heel quickly so less of the bottom is in the water and therefore the boat goes faster. The crew must “hike out “ over the side while this racing dinghy is heeled to balance the boat at the right angle to keep it upright and moving quickly in the water. They are fun to sail but you better be in good shape because “hiking out “ requires some good abdomen muscles! This racing dinghy sails like the bigger faster racers. It will get you ready for the big boys!
Racing dinghies is a great way to spend the day. It encourages families and friends to be together to practice sailing and to improve their sailing skills to win the next race. When I am on the water in the Sunfish all I am thinking about is the boat, the water, and the wind in the sails. It is a lot of fun to be with other people doing the same thing and you can hear the laughter on the dock coming from the sailboats as they race by with their colorful sails. Dinghy racing and dinghy sailing are great sports for everyone at every skill level.
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Sailing World Best of Dr. Crash 2009 Wall Calendar
