Classes

CLASSES OF YACHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

DF 95
The DF95 was designed by Chris Dicks and John Tushingham from the UK and manufactured by JOSWAY a Chinese Toy Manufacturer and distributed worldwide.

INTERNATIONAL ONE METER (IOM)

This is an International class and is very popular worldwide. The boats are one metre long and are allowed 3 suits of sails for varying wind conditions. The class rules are strict regarding dimensions, and weight and the restrictions in the use of exotic materials.

M

MARBLEHEAD CLASS (RM)

This is an International class and was at one time the most popular class in the world but has now been surpassed by the One Meter Class and the DF95.
The boats are 1.270 metres long. A number of varying sail plans is allowed and there is very little restriction on construction materials. The use of carbon fibre and other exotic materials making the boats very expensive but exciting to sail.

36" SHIPMATE CLASS (36”S)

This is a South African strictly controlled one-design class. The boats are 914mm (36inches) long and have three suits of sails for varying wind conditions.
This design was the backbone of Radio Sailing in SA for about 40 years.
Originally it was sold as a Kit for owners to make up but many could not produce decent profiled fins or rudder from the Meranti wood Supplied.

Thereafter the kit was sold with a removable keel box & fibreglass Fin and rudder and turnbuckles for the Vang and shrouds.

The indroduction of the DF95 that requires no building skills saw the virtual demise of this class. Having said that there are still good numbers of yachts that still sail in the Garden Route and on the South Coast of Natal

RADIO CONTROLLED LASERS. (RLC)

These boats are a scaled down version of a Laser dinghy and are a popular class due to the availability of boats commercialy which can be quickly assembled. Competitions are held mainly in Durban and at Pretoria Sailing Club at Rietvlei
See http://www.rclaser.co.za/ for more info.

RG 65 CLASS