Flying Dutchman · Two-person high-performance dinghy

Flying Dutchman

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.