Vessel library

Know the boat before you step aboard.

Source-linked guides to sailing-yacht models, their design intent, practical suitability and specifications.

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Editorial illustration of RS Sailing RS Aero 7

RS Sailing

RS Aero 7

Single‑handed dinghy2014–present (Aero family production since introduction; RS Aero 7 rig available during production run)

The RS Aero 7 is the medium‑sized rig option of the RS Aero single‑hander: a 4.0 m, carbon‑masted, very light dinghy designed by Jo Richards and built by RS Sailing. Its distinguishing feature is a very low hull weight paired with separate interchangeable mast and sail rigs (Aero 5, 7 and 9), allowing the same hull to suit a wide band of crew weights. The Aero 7 sits in the middle of that range and is aimed at medium‑weight adults and competitive youth sailors who want an agile, responsive boat that scales well between club racing and higher‑performance one‑design fleets.

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Editorial illustration of RS Sailing RS Aero 5

RS Sailing

RS Aero 5

Single‑handed dinghy2014 – present (ongoing)

The RS Aero 5 is the smallest sail‑rig option of the modern RS Aero single‑hander: an ultra‑light, epoxy/composite, carbon‑rigged performance dinghy intended to offer exhilarating, easily transported one‑person sailing across a broad weight range. The Aero family is built around a common light hull with interchangeable rigs; the Aero 5 gives lighter sailors — juniors and lighter adults — a manageable, responsive platform that still planes and races in club fleets.

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Editorial illustration of International Moth International Moth

International Moth

International Moth (I.Moth)

Single‑handed foiling dinghyDevelopment class (origins 1928) — modern foiling era from early 2000s to present

The International Moth is a development‑class, single‑handed dinghy best known today for its lightweight, high‑aspect hulls and foiling T‑foils that lift the boat clear of the water. Rather than a single factory model, the I.Moth is defined by class rules that control key dimensions and safety items while leaving hull, foil and rig details open to innovation. The result is a small, extremely fast boat that demands precise boat handling and rapid tuning, and which has become the benchmark for small‑boat foiling worldwide.

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Editorial illustration of MG14 MG14

MG14

MG14

14ft two‑person dinghy (class)Varies by builder — class boats built over many years

The MG14 is a 14‑foot two‑person monohull dinghy raced at club level in parts of Australia. It appears as a two‑handed development/restricted class alongside other 14‑foot classes such as the NS14 and Taser, typically sailed with a mainsail, jib and asymmetric spinnaker. The class is active at regional clubs rather than through a single dominant builder, and boats seen in Australia are commonly fibreglass hulls with modern carbon foils and aluminium or carbon spars.

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Editorial illustration of Paper Tiger Paper Tiger (catamaran)

Paper Tiger

Paper Tiger (single-handed catamaran)

Single‑handed racing catamaranPlans first published 1968 — active class with continuous production and home builds since (multiple generations/variants allowed by class rules)

<p>The Paper Tiger is a two‑hulled, single‑handed racing catamaran first drawn by Ron Given in New Zealand in 1968. Light, simple and deliberately tightly‑controlled by class rules, the design has sustained active fleets in New Zealand and Australia for decades. It is popular both as a home‑build project and as a one‑design racing platform that suits a wide range of ages and crew weights.</p><p>Class rules allow a variety of construction materials and modest tuning freedoms while preserving close on‑water parity. That combination keeps costs relatively low, encourages amateur construction and produces highly competitive fleet racing from club to international level.</p>

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Editorial illustration of Wauquiez Pretorien 35

Wauquiez

Pretorien 35

Cruising monohull (fin keel, skeg-hung rudder)Introduced 1979; production c.1979–1986/87

The Wauquiez Pretorien 35 is a late‑1970s French-built cruising yacht from Chantiers Henri Wauquiez, penned by Holman & Pye. It was marketed as a quality Euro cruiser with solid hand‑laid GRP construction, a deep stub with external lead keel, and a skeg‑hung rudder. The design found favour with long‑distance cruisers for its stiffness, seakeeping and traditional styling; roughly 200+ hulls were completed during the production run.

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Editorial illustration of Flying Dutchman Flying Dutchman

Flying Dutchman

Flying Dutchman

Two-person high-performance dinghyFirst built 1951 – active class

The Flying Dutchman (FD) is a two-person, high‑performance one‑design dinghy introduced in 1951. Long and narrow for its length, with a trapeze and large asymmetric spinnaker options in modern tune, the FD was developed as an international racing boat and served as an Olympic class from 1960 to 1992. Its combination of light hull, large sail area and efficient underwater shape gives early planing and sustained speed; the design demands teamwork and boat handling skills but rewards crews with lively performance in a wide range of conditions.

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Editorial illustration of Optimist Optimist

Optimist

Optimist

Pram / Junior single‑hander dinghyContinuous class production since late 1940s (class rules control hull and sparse measurement tolerances)

The Optimist is the world’s most widely sailed junior training and racing dinghy: a simple, single‑handed pram used to introduce children to boat handling, racing and seamanship. It is light, robust and intentionally basic, with a flat‑bottomed hull, sprit rig and small sail area that make it forgiving at low speeds and easy to right after capsizes. Strong class rules ensure close performance one‑design racing while national associations and clubs support pathways from learn‑to‑sail through international competition.

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Editorial illustration of Australian Sabot Sabot

Australian Sabot

Sabot (Australian)

Junior pram dinghyMid‑20th century to present (various builders)

The Australian Sabot is a small hard‑chine pram dinghy used extensively as a junior trainer and one‑design racer in Australian clubs. Compact, simple and forgiving, the Sabot has been the entry point into dinghy racing for generations of Australian sailors. It is a single‑handed boat with a flat transom/pram bow shape, a daggerboard or centreboard, and a modest sail plan designed to suit youth sailors and light adults.

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Editorial illustration of Minnow Minnow

Minnow

Minnow

Junior dinghy / pramFirst built 1974 – in continuous class use

The Minnow is an eight‑foot pram‑type junior dinghy widely sailed at Australian clubs as a progression from learn‑to‑sail boats. Simple, light and robust, it was conceived as an affordable home‑build and training class that remains competitive whether plywood‑built or moulded in fibreglass. This guide examines its design, layout and practical behaviour for Australian sailing clubs, junior training programmes and families seeking a durable single‑hander for youth racing and learning.

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Editorial illustration of WASZP WASZP (one-design foiling dinghy)

WASZP

WASZP (one-design foiling dinghy)

One-design foiling dinghy / singlehanderIntroduced 2015 — in current production (class rules and showroom active 2024–2026).

The WASZP is a purpose-built, one-design singlehanded foiling dinghy that aims to make foiling accessible, affordable and raceable in a strict class format. It uses a moulded hull with removable wings (platform), T-foils front and rear, a two-piece carbon mast and four rig sizes to cover light juniors through heavier adult sailors. The class emphasises simple, repeatable setup and strict equipment control for fair one-design racing.

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Editorial illustration of Spiral Spiral (dinghy)

Spiral

Spiral (dinghy)

Single‑handed sailing dinghy (one‑design class)Early 1970s (first built 1973); production details limited / regionally variable

The Spiral is a small single‑handed fibreglass dinghy designed by Alan Warwick in the early 1970s. It is a compact, relatively light boat intended for one person and often raced or sailed recreationally where a Laser‑sized single‑hander is needed but a slightly smaller hull suits lighter sailors. (https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/spiral/) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_(dinghy))

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Editorial illustration of Beneteau Oceanis 31

Beneteau

Oceanis 31

Sailing cruiserIntroduced in the 2000s; see sources (Beneteau lists the model within its Oceanis 2005–2014 family; third‑party records list first build dates in the early 2000

A small, comfortable family cruiser from Beneteau’s Oceanis line with naval architecture by Finot‑Conq and interior/deck design by Nauta Design. Built as a versatile coastal cruiser with multiple keel/draught options and two interior layout variants (loft/open or private forecabin). Official Beneteau documentation lists detailed dimensions, capacities and standard equipment and highlights a Performance Pack option for sailors seeking better light‑air capability.

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