Star

Men's Doublehanded Keelboat

Requiring the best technical and racing skills, and, in return, giving the most fun! That's how Star sailors describe their boat which has competed in Olympic sailing since 1932, with the exception of 1976.

Much of the secret to the Star's success is the philosophy of keeping young while growing old. This means the competitiveness of the existing boats is assured while innovation and progress are encouraged. Thus, the Star class has pioneered many refinements now used as standard equipment on all racing sailboats. Supported by a worldwide association, the Star as a class is well-organized, with approximately 7,500 boats built over its 80 year history. Today, over 2,000 Stars are raced actively.

The oldest one-design craft, the Star's 1910-design by American Francis Sweisguth responded to the need to create a bigger, more comfortable and drier "Bug," which was a 17-foot keelboat popular at the time. The first one-design class, the Star revolutionized construction and racing rules. Sweisguth's hull design was ingenius. It has withstood the test of time and the application of new technology to remain at the forefront of international competition. Star World champions acknowledge their win by permanently changing their red mainsail star to gold.

Raced worldwide in over 170 fleets, the Star is a two-handed keelboat, with a sleek fiberglass hull and aluminum spars. Often called "The Torture Rack" because of the enormous 285-square-foot sail area, long boom and narrow waterline, this is a challenging boat to sail in heavy seas. The skipper and crew must be big (average combined weight of 420 lbs.), very fit and strong.

Visit the web page for the International Star Class at: www.starclass.org

*Thanks to the US Sailing Association