The Flying Eleven is an Australian boat designed as a high performance racing skiff suitable for 12 to 18 year olds. High performance sailing is fast becoming the goal of a great many dinghy sailors with the appearance of 49ers as an Olympic class. The Flying Eleven is a logical step in the transition between junior classes such as the Manly Junior or Sabot and prepares young sailors for classes such as Cherubs, 420s, 470s, 29ers, Moths, 13s or even 49ers. 49er With Its Asymetric Spinnaker The 49er is a newer one-design class of small sailing dinghy. ... A junior racing dinghy class popular in Sydney Australia. ... The Sabot is a sailing dinghy that is sailed and raced singlehandedly usually by young sailors in various places around the world. ... The International 420 Class Dinghy is a monohull planing dinghy with centreboard, bermuda rig and centre sheeting, designed for a crew of two. ... The 470 is a monohull planing dinghy with centerboard, bermudan rig and center sheeting, designed for a crew of two. ...

95 boats competed on Sydney Harbour at the 2005 National Championship, while 72 went to Belmont 16' Skiff Sailing Club for the 2006 Championship. The 2007 Nationals will be held in Perth, at the Nedlands Yacht Club.

Statistics

Hull length: 3.3 m Beam: 1.33 m Min. weight: 38.6 kg Mainsail: 6.04 m² Jib: 2.51 m² Spinnaker: 4.46 m²

Crew: double handed, female, male & mixed

Combined crew weight: around 100 kg

Age group skipper: from around 12 years to very old (40’s+)

Age group crews: from around 8 years

Boat Designer: Maxwell Smith

Year established: 1965

Builders of boat (registered): Mark Thorpe, Modern Concept, Dinghy Sports

Builders of boat & spars: Goldspar, Spunspar, Jamstix

Number of registered boats in NSW: 120+

Number of boats at state & national championships: around 70 - 90

High profile sailors to come from the class: In recent years Jacqui Bonnitcha, Joe Turner, John Winning, Kylie Mara, Nathan Outteridge, Nicky Souter, Tom Clout. Over the years Adam Beashel, Craig Ferris, James Spithill, Jonathan Bonnitcha, Malcolm Page, Michael Coxon, Nathan Wilmot, Stephen McConaghy.

History

The F11 started in 1964. The main classes available for training young sailors were the VJ, MJ, Moth, Heron and it appeared there was an opening for a class with:

Comparative speed to the VJ No hiking boards More leg room Main, jib and spinnaker Light weight for transporting A crew of two Ease of building and The possibility of dad getting his foot in occasionally

The acceptance campaign then started and 3 different "models" of the Flying Eleven were taken to different clubs each weekend and sailed in all weathers. These three models were called the Open Sailer, the Self Drainer, and the Fully Decked Model. The fully decked model did not appeal to the go-fast boys and, although the self drainer was popular, the VJ self drainer was well established therefore the emphasis was put on a boat which, firstly, had to be expertly sailed to stay afloat and, secondly, would serve as a trainer for the open skiff classes - so the open sailer it had to be.

During the 1965-66 season Sans Souci Club accepted the F11 as a class, other clubs slowly followed and the NSW Fl l Association was formed in 1967. After trying various types of additional buoyancy, such as side tanks, the lines were redrawn and a complete set of plans issued to the Association, covering hull, sails, centreboard and rudder.

The early F11s were not as attractive or sophisticated as today - the clew of the genoa was 16" above the gunwale - the mainsail hung from one full length top batten, with some short leech battens, all battens were made of cane, and the venturis, which were tube and box type with corks, would be regarded as museum pieces.

External Links

Flying Eleven Association of Australia