Vanguard Sailboats
Encyclopedia
Vanguard Sailboats was founded in 1967 in Waukesha, Wisconsin
, USA by Peter and Olaf Harken
. The brothers started to gain attention after their sailing hardware was used on boats that won Olympic gold in 1968 and after Vanguard supplied the Finn
class for several countries in the 1976 Olympics. The hardware segment was maintained somewhat separately, as it was marketed to competing boatbuilders. In 1986, the Harkens sold Vanguard to Stephen Clark, who moved the business to Rhode Island. The brothers focused their efforts on the performance sailing hardware business in Pewaukee, WI under the name Harken, Inc.
, while Vanguard continued in boatbuilding.
Since the launch of their first dinghy
, Vanguard has enjoyed success in building recreational sailboats for adults and junior sailors. Vanguard constructs a wide range of boats from the Optimist pram to the ultra-modern 49er
. Their most famous build is the Sunfish
, created by Alexander Bryan and Cortlandt Heyniger in 1952 under the name Alcort.
Until 2007, Vanguard manufactured 18 classes, 12 of which are in the performance and racing segment, including several Olympic classes. The company also distributes Magic Marine sailing wear
, English Braids line
, and Seitech accessories.
In 2007 Vanguard Sailboats was acquired by Performance Sailcraft Europe. The combined company is known as Laser Performance.
, the organization that governs college sailing in North America
. Most colleges and universities sail fleets of 420
s, Flying Junior
s or Vanguard 15
s. Additionally, Vanguard Sailboats is a sponsor of many adult and junior sailing regattas.
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
, USA by Peter and Olaf Harken
Harken, Inc.
Harken Yacht Equipment is an international performance sailing hardware manufacturer headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The company was founded in a 60-foot trailer in 1967 by brothers Peter Harken and Olaf Harken. Originally, the brothers manufactured sailboats under the name Vanguard and...
. The brothers started to gain attention after their sailing hardware was used on boats that won Olympic gold in 1968 and after Vanguard supplied the Finn
Finn (dinghy)
The Finn dinghy is the men's single-handed, cat-rigged Olympic class for sailing. It was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki...
class for several countries in the 1976 Olympics. The hardware segment was maintained somewhat separately, as it was marketed to competing boatbuilders. In 1986, the Harkens sold Vanguard to Stephen Clark, who moved the business to Rhode Island. The brothers focused their efforts on the performance sailing hardware business in Pewaukee, WI under the name Harken, Inc.
Harken, Inc.
Harken Yacht Equipment is an international performance sailing hardware manufacturer headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The company was founded in a 60-foot trailer in 1967 by brothers Peter Harken and Olaf Harken. Originally, the brothers manufactured sailboats under the name Vanguard and...
, while Vanguard continued in boatbuilding.
Since the launch of their first dinghy
Dinghy
A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed for use as a ship's boat by a larger vessel. It is a loanword from either Bengali or Urdu. The term can also refer to small racing yachts or recreational open sailing boats. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor,...
, Vanguard has enjoyed success in building recreational sailboats for adults and junior sailors. Vanguard constructs a wide range of boats from the Optimist pram to the ultra-modern 49er
49er (dinghy)
The 49er is a double handed twin trapeze skiff type sailing dinghy. The two crew work on different roles with the helm making many tactical decisions, as well as steering, and the crew doing most of the sail control. The design, by Julian Bethwaite, the son of Frank Bethwaite , is revolutionary...
. Their most famous build is the Sunfish
Sunfish (dinghy)
The Sunfish sailboat is a personal size, beach launched sailing dinghy utilizing a pontoon type hull carrying a lateen sail mounted to an un-stayed mast....
, created by Alexander Bryan and Cortlandt Heyniger in 1952 under the name Alcort.
Until 2007, Vanguard manufactured 18 classes, 12 of which are in the performance and racing segment, including several Olympic classes. The company also distributes Magic Marine sailing wear
Sailing wear
thumb|200px|Crew members wearing Helly Hansen suitsSailing wear is a type of clothing for sailing. It protects the sailor from water and insulates the body on board a vessel....
, English Braids line
Rope
A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength...
, and Seitech accessories.
In 2007 Vanguard Sailboats was acquired by Performance Sailcraft Europe. The combined company is known as Laser Performance.
Vanguard in the community
Vanguard is very active in the sailing community and is a major sponsor of the Intercollegiate Sailing AssociationIntercollegiate Sailing Association
The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association is a volunteer organization that serves as the governing authority for all sailing competition at colleges and universities throughout the United States and in some parts of Canada.-History:...
, the organization that governs college sailing in 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...
. Most colleges and universities sail fleets of 420
420 (dinghy)
The International 420 Class Dinghy is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with centreboard, bermuda rig and centre sheeting. The name describes the overall length of the boat in centimetres . The hull is fibreglass with internal buoyancy tanks. The 420 is equipped with spinnaker and optional...
s, Flying Junior
Flying Junior
thumb|Coen Gulcher helming one of the first Flying Juniors The International Flying Junior or FJ is a sailing dinghy which was originally designed in 1955 in the Netherlands by renowned boat designer Van Essen and Olympic sailor Conrad Gülcher. The FJ was built to serve as a training boat for the...
s or Vanguard 15
Vanguard 15
The Vanguard 15 is a popular one design racing dinghy designed by Bob Ames. It is a double-handed monohull sailboat with a sloop rig . Ideally the combined weight of the crew is between 270 and and both members hike off the boat to keep it flat...
s. Additionally, Vanguard Sailboats is a sponsor of many adult and junior sailing regattas.