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Flying Dutchman

Designer: Uus Van Essen/Conrad Gulcher  ·  Builder: Advance Sailboat Corp. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1951
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About the Flying Dutchman

Designed as a high-performance two-person racing dinghy, this Olympic-class sailboat earned its legendary status through decades of competitive sailing excellence. Originally conceived in the 1950s by Dutch designer Conrad Gülcher, the Flying Dutchman quickly established itself as one of the most challenging and rewarding boats in the small boat racing circuit. Built for speed and responsiveness, this trapeze-equipped dinghy demands skilled crew work and precise boat handling. The design features a sleek hull optimized for planing conditions, making it exceptionally fast in moderate to heavy winds. Its distinctive sail plan includes a large mainsail and generous jib, providing substantial power that translates into exhilarating performance when properly managed. Racing enthusiasts particularly appreciate the boat's unforgiving nature, which rewards technical proficiency while quickly exposing weaknesses in technique or teamwork. The Flying Dutchman served as an Olympic class from 1960 to 1992, cementing its reputation among serious competitive sailors worldwide. While primarily designed for racing, experienced sailors sometimes use these boats for recreational sailing in protected waters. However, the boat's performance-oriented design and physical demands make it best suited for dedicated racers seeking a challenging, high-speed sailing experience.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 5.90 ft / 1.80 m
Displacement 287.00 lb / 130 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood or FG
Designer Uus Van Essen/Conrad Gulcher
Builder Advance Sailboat Corp. (USA)
First Built 1951
Owner Reviews

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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
26.08
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
2.32
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. 5.52 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. 2.15 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 73.62
P (Mainsail Luff) 200.00 ft² / 18.58 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Uus van Essen
How It Compares

vs. C Scow, Flying Fifteen, Highlander, Shark Catamaran, Tornado Catamaran

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Flying Dutchman ★
20.0 ft
C Scow
20.0 ft
Flying Fifteen
20.0 ft
Highlander
20.0 ft
Shark Catamaran
20.0 ft
Tornado Catamaran
20.0 ft
LWL
Flying Dutchman ★
C Scow
Flying Fifteen
15.0 ft
Highlander
19.7 ft
Shark Catamaran
17.0 ft
Tornado Catamaran
Beam
Flying Dutchman ★
5.9 ft
C Scow
7.0 ft
Flying Fifteen
7.0 ft
Highlander
6.7 ft
Shark Catamaran
10.0 ft
Tornado Catamaran
10.0 ft
Displacement
Flying Dutchman ★
287 lbs
C Scow
650 lbs
Flying Fifteen
725 lbs
Highlander
830 lbs
Shark Catamaran
300 lbs
Tornado Catamaran
300 lbs
Sail Area
Flying Dutchman ★
C Scow
216 sq ft
Flying Fifteen
142 sq ft
Highlander
225 sq ft
Shark Catamaran
235 sq ft
Tornado Catamaran
235 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Flying Dutchman ★
C Scow
Flying Fifteen
28.2
Highlander
40.8
Shark Catamaran
84.0
Tornado Catamaran
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Flying Dutchman ★
2.3
C Scow
4.2
Flying Fifteen
5.1
Highlander
5.2
Shark Catamaran
Tornado Catamaran
1.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Flying Dutchman ★
C Scow
Flying Fifteen
3.12
Highlander
2.84
Shark Catamaran
Tornado Catamaran
5.98
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Flying Dutchman ★
26
C Scow
59
Flying Fifteen
95
Highlander
Shark Catamaran
Tornado Catamaran
27
Hull Speed
Flying Dutchman ★
5.5 kts
C Scow
5.5 kts
Flying Fifteen
5.2 kts
Highlander
5.9 kts
Shark Catamaran
Tornado Catamaran
5.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Flying Dutchman ★
C Scow
Flying Fifteen
6.0
Highlander
9.5
Shark Catamaran
Tornado Catamaran
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