These are just some of the boats that are sailed at YDSC. The images are links to the relevant UK class associations and there are some basic notes in the table at the bottom.
Some notes about the boats
| 29er | The 29er is a two-man high performance sailing skiff first produced in 1998. It is targeted at youth, especially those training to sail the larger 49er. |
| 49er | The 49er is the boat by which all others are judged, and it has changed the face of sailing. It has brought skiff sailing to everyone. We’ve got boats that match today’s era, they look appropriate for the 21st century, and they bring high-performance thrills for low cost and very little maintenance. |
| 4000 | The 4000 (aka 4K, 4-tonner) is a racing dinghy crewed by two persons. Its one-design weight-equalised system enables physically differing sailors to compete on a level playing field. Notable features also include a single trapeze, centre-sheeted main, open self-draining deck, dagger board, single line hoist/drop gennaker with gybing pole and a gnav system in place of the vang (kicking strap) allowing greater space for the crew. |
| Buzz | The Buzz is a one design, double handed, single trapeze, asymmetric sailing dinghy suitable for young sailors of both sexes as well as lighter weight adults. With over 500 boats being sailed in more than a dozen countries around the world, the Buzz has proved its success with a very wide range of today’s young (and some not so young) sailors looking for great value for money fun and exhilaration and for the more serious excellent racing both in our own organised one design events as well being competitive in mixed fleets either sailing around the cans or windward leeward race courses. |
| Contender | The International Contender is a single-handed high performance sailing dinghy, designed in 1967 as a possible successor to the Finn dinghy for Olympic competition. The Contender is recognised as an International Class by the International Sailing Federation, the governing body of sail boat racing, which administers the class rules. |
| Finn | The Finn has the best pedigree of all single-handed dinghy’s having been selected to compete in every Olympic Games since 1952. It is sailed in more countries that any other single-hander and the list of Finn helms past and present reads like the ‘Who’s Who’ of dinghy sailing – what better advert for this great boat! |
| Fireball | The Fireball is probably the highest performance dinghy that just about anyone can sail in almost any wind strength, on any style of race course, on virtually any stretch of water. A genuinely international sailing dinghy with a single trapeze and spinnaker. An adjustable rig rules out the need for complex racks or weight equalisation systems; and class rules allow flexibility to fit the boat out to suit you, making it ideal for smaller helms or crews to sail the boat that they want. |
| Laser | The Laser is the most popular sailing dinghy that has ever been produced. There are now nearly 185,000 boats world-wide. At the highest level it is an Olympic class and the UK has a very good standing within the world. More than this the class is sailed at virtually every club in the country. With three rigs to choose from you can decide which one suits you best, even change as the weather varies and many young sailors are moving into the class from the Optimist and Topper knowing that they will be able to stay competitive as they grow older and bigger. |
| Mirror | Single or double-handed dinghy with distinctive red sails which also has a spinnaker and can be rowed, or have an outboard stuck on the back! The whole world used to sail one and they are perhaps the most versatile junior or adult beginners class there’s ever been. Now starting to make a comeback after a period of being out of fashion. Available in FRP or wood. |
| Musto Skiff | The Musto Performance Skiff has been designed and developed with the following brief in mind – to produce an elegant yet simple dinghy with blistering performance that is highly enjoyable to sail. Just ask any Musto Performance Skiff owner and they will confirm that the design brief has been achieved. |
| Phantom | With her lightweight hull and large rig on a stayed mast she has a high power to weight ratio, but is stable and responsive. There is no trapeze or spinnaker and she can carry a wide range of helm weights. |
| RS200 | A two-man boat with an asymmetric spinnaker, the RS 200 is fast and exciting and small enough to manoeuvre within the confines of an inland water. Not ideal for beginners but not difficult once you can sail, it is suitable for lighter crews. Minimum combined crew weight 18 stone. |
| RS400 | Larger, more powerful version of the RS200, the RS400 is one of the classic asymmetric classes. Goes like a witch upwind and is sensational off wind. Not for beginners, but vice free once you master how to tame all that power. Minimum combined crew weight 21 stone. |
| RS800 | Extreme sailing – remarkable handling. The RS800 is a true double-handed skiff that allows both men and women to experience the thrill of real high performance racing. |
| Topper | Although the Topper is predominantly sailed by juniors, it can be enjoyed by sailors of all ages. The current suggested weight guideline is between 47 and 63kg, but again there are many sailors either side of this guideline enjoying sailing the Topper. |
| Vago | This tough, versatile and fun asymmetric dinghy is available with training or high performance racing sails and is capable of racing single or double handed with or without a trapeze and spinnaker. The Laser Vago easily adapts to changes in your sailing requirements making it ideal for individuals, families or mixed crews who want to race from club to National level or just enjoy the thrill of asymmetric sailing. |
| Vortex | The Vortex is one of the fastest and yet stable dinghys currently available on the market today. The tunnel hull design means that all the stability is at the edges of the hull plan, making it difficult to roll a Vortex into a capsize. |