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Dinghy

Snipe

dinghy

William Crosby's 1931 two-hander, once called the world's most popular dinghy, still racing hard in over 20 countries on its original lines.

LOA
4.72
M
YEAR DESIGNED
1931
DESIGNER
William F. Crosby
One-Design Sails

Sails For This Class

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Technical Data

Specifications

LOA
4.72
M
Beam
1.52
M
Draft
0.99
M
Hull Weight
172
KG
Crew Min
1
Crew Max
2
Year Designed
1931
Mainsail Area
6.78
M²
Jib Area
3.39
M²
Spinnaker Area
0
M²
Class Profile

Class Facts & History

Category
Dinghy
Type
dinghy
Designer
William F. Crosby
Class Association
Snipe Class International Racing Association (SCIRA)

History

William F. Crosby designed the Snipe in 1931 for Rudder magazine, aiming for a boat sailors could build at home cheaply and tow behind a car. It became the world's most popular one-design dinghy through the mid-20th century, and more than 8,000 boats were racing in over 250 fleets by 1959.

Sailing Characteristics

No spinnaker and no trapeze under class rules means the Snipe rewards trim and boat handling over raw horsepower, with a whisker pole doing the work downwind. The chined hull and fractional sloop rig make her a forgiving, honest boat for a helm and crew learning to sail as a team.

Racing Context

SCIRA runs Junior, Senior and Masters World Championships plus continental and district events, with active fleets across the Americas, Europe and Asia and some of the oldest continuously raced trophies in dinghy sailing.

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