P-class yacht

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P-ClassDevelopment

Designer| Harry Highet
Year| 1923
Name| P-Class
Crew| 1
Boat
Crew| 1
Hull
Type| Monohull
Construction| Wood; Plywood; Fibreglass
LOA| 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Rig
Rig type| Bermuda rig
Sails
Upwind sail area| 45 sq ft (4.2 m2)

[edit on Wikidata]

The P-Class is a type of small single sail dinghy, popular as a training boat for young people in New Zealand. This class is famous for being the sailing trainer vessel for many new entrants into the sport, and virtually every famous New Zealand yachtsman, including Sir Peter Blake and Russell Coutts, learnt to sail in one. The P-Class was for many years the most common sailing boat in New Zealand.

## Origin[edit]

The P-Class was designed by New Zealand civil engineer, Harry Highet, as a simple vessel in which children and young people could learn to sail. It is a 2.13 metre long, slab sided, v bottom single hull, single sail Bermuda rigged dinghy, and is designed to be sailed by one person. The low aspect ratio Bermudan rig took over from a gunter rig in the 1950s. The boom overhangs the stern of the boat. It has a small deep cockpit with the rest of the hull making water tight buoyancy compartments. When capsized the boat floats very high in the water. The hull has a minimum weight of 90 lbs so is very solid. Even 40-year-old boats can be bought in good condition.

The first example appeared at Onerahi near Whangarei on New Year's Day, 1920. However it was not until Highet and his family moved to Tauranga in 1923 that the full potential of his design became apparent. Soon a fleet of a dozen or so boats were racing each weekend on Tauranga Harbour. The P-Class was initially known as the "Tauranga Class". Boats carried the letter "P" on their sails, to indicate they were primary trainers.

By 1940, an Inter-Provincial Competition had been established for the P Class, but this was held only in 1940 and 1941, before lapsing for the rest of World War Two. The competition resumed in 1945, with sailors racing for the Tanner Cup, a trophy donated by Mr George Tanner. A separate Inter-Club competition for the Tauranga Cup began at about the same time. Both competitions are still held annually.

Originally built of solid wood, plywood was introduced in 1956 and fibreglass hulls were allowed in 1975. Aluminium spars were introduced in 1976 and carbon fibre - composite masts, in 1998. The class is a one design class with tight building restrictions ensuring that hulls spars sails and foils are very similar in weight and dimensions.

A beginner's boat sells for $300 NZ and a top racing boat about $3000–5000NZ. Racing boats have a full range of double sided sail controls with masts and foils made of carbon fibre, and at least 2 quality sails for different wind strengths.

The P class is generally sailed by boys and girls from 11 to 15. Because of its short length it is difficult to sail down wind in waves, giving the boat a tendency to nose-dive. So children develop advanced sailing skills at a young age.

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Sailing dinghies

Dinghies under 10 ft|

* Cape Cod Frosty
* Flipper
* Frog
* El Toro
* Fatty Knees
* Fly
* Holdfast Trainer
* Manly Junior
* Minto
* Montgomery 7-11
* Naples Sabot
* O'pen BIC
* Optimist
* P Class
* Pelican
* Sabot
* Shrimp
* Starling
* Tadpole
* Topaz Taz
* Zoom 8

Dinghies under 15 ft|

| 0 - K|

* 10ft Skiff
* 12 foot dinghy
* 125
* 145
* 12ft Skiff
* 29er
* 29erXX skiff
* 2000
* 3000
* 420
* 470
* Adventuress
* American 14.6
* ASC
* B14
* Banshee
* Beetle Cat
* Beneteau Wizz
* Bermuda Fitted Dinghy
* Beverly Dinghy
* Barnett 1400
* Blaze
* Blue Crab 11
* Blue Jay
* Bombardier 3.8
* Bombardier Invitation
* Bosun
* British Moth
* Bullet 14
* Buzz
* Byte
* Cadet
* Capri Cyclone
* Cherub
* C-Lark
* Comet (UK)
* Coypu
* Dabchick
* Dart
* Designers Choice
* Dolphin 15 Senior
* Echo 12
* Enterprise
* Europe
* Envy
* Farr 3.7
* Finn
* Firefly
* Flying Ant
* Flying Eleven
* Flying Junior
* Force 5
* GP14
* Graduate
* Griffon
* Gull
* Howmar 12
* Heron
* Idle-along
* Impulse
* Interclub Dinghy
* International 14
* Javelin (NZ)
* Javelin (US)
* Jet 14
* Jollyboat (NZ)
* Kite

|

L - Z|

* Lark
* Laser Standard
* Laser 2
* Laser 3000
* Laser 4.7
* Laser 5000
* Laser Pico
* Laser Radial
* Laser Vago
* Laser Vortex
* Lido 14
* Mark
* Marlin
* Merlin Rocket
* MG14
* Minisail
* Miracle
* Mirror
* Montgomery 7-11
* Montgomery 12
* Moth
* Musto Performance Skiff
* National 12
* NS14
* OK Dinghy
* Otter
* Pacer
* Pegasus
* Penguin
* Phantom 14
* Phantom
* Precision 13
* Precision 14
* Puffer
* Rascal 14
* RS Aero
* RS Feva
* RS Tera
* RS Vareo
* RS100
* RS200
* RS300
* RS400
* RS500
* RS600
* RS700
* RS800
* Sabre
* Scorpion
* Skimmer
* Skipjack 15
* Skunk 11
* Snark
* Snowbird
* Solo
* Speedball 14
* Spindrift 13
* Spiral
* Splash
* Streaker
* Sunburst
* Sunfish
* Surprise 15
* Tanzer 14
* Tasar
* Tech Dinghy
* Topper
* Topper Topaz
* Topaz Magno
* Topaz Vibe
* Transit 380
* Vagabond
* Vaurien
* Wanderer
* Water Wag
* Widgeon 12
* Woodpussy
* Zeddie
* Zephyr

Dinghies under 20 ft|

| 0 - K|

* 16ft Skiff
* 18 foot dinghy
* 18ft Skiff
* 470
* 49er
* 505
* Albacore
* Apollo 16
* Australian Sharpie
* Beaufort
* Bombardier 4.8
* Buccaneer 18
* Cape Cod Gemini
* Cape Cod Mercury 15
* Caprice 15
* CL 16
* Comet (US)
* Contender
* Coronado 15
* Corsair
* Day Sailer
* Flying Dutchman
* Flying Scot
* French National Monotype 1924
* Geary 18
* Gloucester 15
* Hampton One-Design
* Holiday 20
* Hornet
* Interlake
* International Canoe
* ISO
* Jacksnipe
* Javelin (Europe)
* Jersey Skiff
* Jollyboat (UK)
* Jolly Boat
* JY15

|

L - Z|

* Laser 4000
* Laser Stratos
* Leeward 16
* Lelievlet
* Lightning
* Menger Cat 15
* Mirror 16
* Mistral 16
* Mobjack
* Mud Hen 17
* Mutineer 15
* O-Jolle
* Paceship 20
* Payne-Mortlock sailing canoe
* Picnic 17
* Pirate
* Precision 15 CB
* Precision 16
* Precision 185 CB
* Ranger 16
* Rebel 16
* Rhodes 18
* Rhodes 19
* RS Vision
* RS700
* RS800
* RS Venture
* S2 5.5
* Salcombe Yawl
* Sea Bright
* Sea Scout Standard Boat (BP18)
* Snipe
* Tanzer 16
* 12m2 Sharpie
* Thistle
* Topaz Omega
* US1
* Vanguard 15
* Wayfarer
* Windmill
* Windy
* Winkle Brig
* X Boat

Dinghies 20 ft or over|

* Dovekie 21
* Highlander
* Norfolk Punt
* Sea Pearl 21

Scows|

* A Scow
* Butterfly
* C Scow
* E Scow
* Fireball
* Flipper
* I-20
* Melges 17
* M Scow
* MC Scow
* Puddle Duck Racer
* Thames A-class rater
* Y Flyer

Multihulls|

| Catamarans|

* A-Class
* Cheshire 14
* Dart 16
* Dart 18
* DC‐14 Phantom
* Flying Phantom Elite
* Flying Phantom Essentiel
* Formula 16
* Formula 18
* G-Cat 5.0
* G-Cat 5.7
* Hobie 14
* Hobie 16
* Hobie 17
* Hobie Bravo
* Hobie Dragoon
* Hobie Tiger
* Hobie Wave
* Hobie Wildcat
* Isotope
* Kona 14
* Nacra 5.2
* Nacra 15
* Nacra 17
* Nacra F18 Infusion
* Nacra 20 Carbon
* M32
* Phantom 14
* Phantom 16
* Phoenix 18
* Prindle 18
* Prindle 18-2
* Shearwater III
* SL 16
* Topcat K1
* Tornado
* Trac 14
* Viper F16

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Trimarans|

* Astus 14.1
* Weta

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