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Finn Monotype
Designer: Richard Sarby  ·  Builder: Børresen Bådebyggeri  ·  First built: 1949
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About the Finn Monotype

Designed by Richard Sarby in 1949, this single-handed Olympic-class dinghy represents one of sailing's most demanding and prestigious one-design classes. Originally built by Børresen Bådebyggeri, the Finn has earned a legendary reputation as the heavyweight division of dinghy sailing, requiring exceptional physical strength and sailing skill to master effectively. At nearly 15 feet overall with a substantial 320-pound displacement, this centerboard dinghy delivers impressive stability and power handling capabilities that set it apart from lighter racing dinghies. The unstayed cat rig features 108 square feet of sail area, creating a powerful but manageable sail plan that rewards precise technique and fitness. The relatively deep 2.79-foot draft provides excellent upwind performance while maintaining the shallow-water versatility expected from a centerboard design. With over 4,300 hulls built since its introduction, the Finn has proven its worth through decades of Olympic competition and club racing worldwide. Available in both traditional wood and modern fiberglass construction, this boat excels in competitive fleet racing and serves as an excellent training platform for sailors looking to develop advanced boat-handling skills. The Finn's demanding nature makes it ideal for experienced sailors seeking a physical and technical challenge in protected waters and moderate coastal conditions.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 14.76 ft / 4.50 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 13.29 ft / 4.05 m
Beam 4.95 ft / 1.51 m
Max Draft 2.79 ft / 0.85 m
Min Draft 0.40 ft / 0.12 m
Displacement 320.00 lb / 145 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 108.00 ft² / 10.03 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Cat (unstayed)
Construction Wood or FG
Designer Richard Sarby
Builder Børresen Bådebyggeri
First Built 1949
Number Built 4300
Associations Finn Class - International
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
36.98
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
60.86
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
4.27
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
2.9
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 4.89 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 235.06 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Comet Trio, Phantom Dinghy Uk, Tasar

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Finn Monotype ★
14.8 ft
Comet Trio
15.0 ft
Phantom Dinghy Uk
14.5 ft
Tasar
14.8 ft
LWL
Finn Monotype ★
13.3 ft
Comet Trio
Phantom Dinghy Uk
13.8 ft
Tasar
14.0 ft
Beam
Finn Monotype ★
5.0 ft
Comet Trio
6.0 ft
Phantom Dinghy Uk
5.5 ft
Tasar
5.8 ft
Displacement
Finn Monotype ★
320 lbs
Comet Trio
320 lbs
Phantom Dinghy Uk
134 lbs
Tasar
141 lbs
Sail Area
Finn Monotype ★
108 sq ft
Comet Trio
135 sq ft
Phantom Dinghy Uk
105 sq ft
Tasar
123 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Finn Monotype ★
37.0
Comet Trio
Phantom Dinghy Uk
64.2
Tasar
72.7
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Finn Monotype ★
4.3
Comet Trio
3.4
Phantom Dinghy Uk
1.5
Tasar
1.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Finn Monotype ★
2.90
Comet Trio
Phantom Dinghy Uk
4.30
Tasar
4.42
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Finn Monotype ★
60
Comet Trio
68
Phantom Dinghy Uk
Tasar
22
Hull Speed
Finn Monotype ★
4.9 kts
Comet Trio
4.8 kts
Phantom Dinghy Uk
5.0 kts
Tasar
5.0 kts
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