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Flying Ant
Designer: John Spencer  ·  Builder: Dinghy Sports(Aus)  ·  First built: 1967
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About the Flying Ant

Designed by renowned Australian naval architect John Spencer in 1967, this compact centerboard dinghy represents classic small boat design principles with modern construction techniques. The Flying Ant combines traditional wood construction with fiberglass reinforcement, creating a lightweight yet durable platform that tips the scales at just 90 pounds. With its fractional sloop rig and generous sail area of 73 square feet, this dinghy delivers impressive performance for its modest 10.5-foot length. The high sail area-to-displacement ratio of 58.17 indicates excellent light-air performance and spirited sailing characteristics, making it particularly well-suited for protected waters, harbor sailing, and small boat racing. The boat's narrow 4.25-foot beam contributes to its lightweight construction while maintaining adequate stability for single-handed or two-person sailing. Built by Dinghy Sports in Australia, the Flying Ant gained recognition in the antipodean small boat community during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The centerboard configuration allows for easy launching from beaches and shallow water exploration, while the capsize screening formula of 3.79 suggests reasonable stability for experienced small boat sailors. This dinghy appeals to sailors seeking a responsive, traditional-style boat for day sailing and informal racing in sheltered conditions.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
Beam 4.25 ft / 1.30 m
Displacement 90.00 lb / 41 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 73.00 ft² / 6.78 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood/FG
Designer John Spencer
Builder Dinghy Sports(AUS)
First Built 1967
Associations Flying Ant Skiff Sailing of Australia
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Performance Ratios
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
56.52
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
2.14
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. 4.0 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. 0.81 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Flying Eleven, Heron, Penguin

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Flying Ant ★
10.5 ft
Flying Eleven
11.3 ft
Heron
11.3 ft
Penguin
11.4 ft
Beam
Flying Ant ★
4.3 ft
Flying Eleven
4.7 ft
Heron
4.5 ft
Penguin
4.7 ft
Displacement
Flying Ant ★
90 lbs
Flying Eleven
85 lbs
Heron
140 lbs
Penguin
140 lbs
Sail Area
Flying Ant ★
73 sq ft
Flying Eleven
91 sq ft
Heron
70 sq ft
Penguin
Performance
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Flying Ant ★
2.1
Flying Eleven
1.7
Heron
2.9
Penguin
2.7
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Flying Ant ★
56
Flying Eleven
43
Heron
71
Penguin
68
Hull Speed
Flying Ant ★
4.0 kts
Flying Eleven
4.1 kts
Heron
4.1 kts
Penguin
4.2 kts
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