Flying Scot (dinghy)
Encyclopedia
The Flying Scot is a day sailer dinghy
used for pleasure sailing
as well as racing
throughout North America
. The Flying Scot was designed in 1957 by Gordon K. (Sandy) Douglass
who had already designed the Thistle
and Highlander
dinghies.
The Flying Scot is noted for ease of handling and durability, and has been a popular choice of individual owners, sailing schools, and rental operators since its introduction. Nearly 6000 of the type have been built by its manufacturer (originally the Gordon Douglass Boat Company, now Flying Scot Inc.), based in Maryland
.
The hull
design of the Flying Scot makes it able to plane
in winds of 15 knots or more, exceeding the waterline hull speed
.
Races are held throughout the year in the USA and Canada by the Flying Scot Sailing Association and its local fleets. As a one-design, all Flying Scot boats are built to the same specifications and thus have equal chances in winning a race, no matter when the boat was built. This makes the boats especially appealing to amateur racing associations since this type of construction strives to eliminate variables other than the skill of the crew. The Flying Scot was inducted into the American Sailboat Hall of Fame
in 1998.
The Flying Scot Association says, "The Scot's performance offers thrills to even the experienced sailor and provides for tight, competitive racing. There are more than 100 fleets racing Flying Scots in the USA and Canada. The Scot is normally raced with a crew of two or three, but can be single handed
as well. The sail plan consists of main, jib and spinnaker. Simple rigging and uniform construction fosters tactical racing."
Day sailer
A daysailer, day sailer, or dayboat is a small sailboat with or without sleeping accommodations but which is larger than a dinghy. Dayboats can be monohull or multihull, and are typically trailer-able. Many dayboats have a small cabin or "cuddy" for storage and to provide a shelter, or for...
used for pleasure sailing
Dinghy sailing
Dinghy sailing is the activity of sailing small boats by using five essential controls:* the sails* the foils ....
as well as racing
Dinghy racing
Dinghy racing is the competitive sport of sailing dinghies. Dinghy racing has affected aspects of the modern dinghy, including hull design, sail materials and sailplan, and techniques such as planing and trapezing.-Organisation of dinghy racing:...
throughout North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. The Flying Scot was designed in 1957 by Gordon K. (Sandy) Douglass
Gordon K. (Sandy) Douglass
Gordon K. "Sandy" Douglass was a racer, designer, and builder of sailing dinghies. Two of his designs, the Thistle and the Flying Scot, are among the most popular one design racing classes in the United States. The Flying Scot was inducted into the American Sailboat Hall of Fame...
who had already designed the Thistle
Thistle (dinghy)
The Thistle is a high performance one-design racing dinghy, also used for day sailing, popular in the United States. The Thistle was designed by Gordon K. Douglass who later designed the Highlander and Flying Scot. Starting in 1945, 4000 boats have now been built. Their construction originally...
and Highlander
Highlander (dinghy)
The Highlander is a large high performance one-design racing dinghy, also used for day sailing, popular in the United States. It was designed by Gordon K. Douglass in 1949, to be a more comfortable alternative to the Thistle. The Highlander was the last boat built by the Douglass & McLeod...
dinghies.
The Flying Scot is noted for ease of handling and durability, and has been a popular choice of individual owners, sailing schools, and rental operators since its introduction. Nearly 6000 of the type have been built by its manufacturer (originally the Gordon Douglass Boat Company, now Flying Scot Inc.), based in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
The hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
design of the Flying Scot makes it able to plane
Planing (sailing)
Planing is the mode of operation for a waterborne craft in which its weight is predominantly supported by hydrodynamic lift, rather than hydrostatic lift .-History:...
in winds of 15 knots or more, exceeding the waterline hull speed
Hull speed
Hull speed, sometimes referred to as displacement speed, is the speed of a boat at which the bow and stern waves interfere constructively, creating relatively large waves, and thus a relatively large value of wave drag...
.
Races are held throughout the year in the USA and Canada by the Flying Scot Sailing Association and its local fleets. As a one-design, all Flying Scot boats are built to the same specifications and thus have equal chances in winning a race, no matter when the boat was built. This makes the boats especially appealing to amateur racing associations since this type of construction strives to eliminate variables other than the skill of the crew. The Flying Scot was inducted into the American Sailboat Hall of Fame
American Sailboat Hall of Fame
The American Sailboat Hall of Fame was established in 1994 by Sail America to recognize ingenuity in designs by American boat builders. The physical display is housed in The Museum of Yachting located in Fort Adams State Park, Newport, Rhode Island, and includes examples of many of the selected...
in 1998.
The Flying Scot Association says, "The Scot's performance offers thrills to even the experienced sailor and provides for tight, competitive racing. There are more than 100 fleets racing Flying Scots in the USA and Canada. The Scot is normally raced with a crew of two or three, but can be single handed
Single-handed sailing
The sport of single-handed sailing or solo sailing is sailing with only one crewmember . The term is usually used with reference to ocean and long-distance sailing, and particularly competitive sailing....
as well. The sail plan consists of main, jib and spinnaker. Simple rigging and uniform construction fosters tactical racing."