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Olympic Monotype 1924
Designer: Gaston Grenier  ·  First built: 1924
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About the Olympic Monotype 1924

Steeped in Olympic history, the Monotype 1924 holds a fascinating place in the story of competitive sailing. Designed specifically for the 1924 Paris Olympics held at Meulan, this single-handed dinghy represented an early effort to standardize racing at the Games, ensuring competitors were tested purely on skill rather than the advantages of differing equipment. As a purpose-built racing craft, the Monotype 1924 was never intended for coastal cruising or offshore passages — its identity is entirely bound to competitive one-design racing. The concept of a strict monotype class, where all boats are built to an identical design, was relatively progressive for its era, laying groundwork for the one-design philosophy that dominates Olympic sailing today. For researchers and collectors, this boat carries significant historical charm. While detailed specifications are limited, its legacy as an Olympic-class vessel makes it a compelling subject for those interested in the evolution of racing sailboat design. Anyone drawn to vintage racing heritage and the origins of modern Olympic sailing will find the Monotype 1924 a genuinely rewarding piece of nautical history to explore.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 16.40 ft / 5.00 m
Beam 6.56 ft / 2.00 m
Max Draft 3.61 ft / 1.10 m
Min Draft 1.02 ft / 0.31 m
Displacement 992.00 lb / 450 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 215.00 ft² / 19.97 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Gaffhead Sloop
Construction Wood planked
Designer Gaston Grenier
First Built 1924
Related Sailboats ["Wianno Junior" · "O Jolle" · "Town" · "Ss Class" · "505"]
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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
34.65
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
2.63
How It Compares

vs. O Jolle, Ss Class, Town

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Olympic Monotype 1924 ★
16.4 ft
O Jolle
16.4 ft
Ss Class
16.5 ft
Town
16.5 ft
LWL
Olympic Monotype 1924 ★
O Jolle
Ss Class
14.0 ft
Town
13.4 ft
Beam
Olympic Monotype 1924 ★
6.6 ft
O Jolle
5.5 ft
Ss Class
4.8 ft
Town
5.8 ft
Displacement
Olympic Monotype 1924 ★
992 lbs
O Jolle
485 lbs
Ss Class
900 lbs
Town
700 lbs
Sail Area
Olympic Monotype 1924 ★
215 sq ft
O Jolle
Ss Class
133 sq ft
Town
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Olympic Monotype 1924 ★
34.7
O Jolle
Ss Class
22.9
Town
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Olympic Monotype 1924 ★
O Jolle
5.3
Ss Class
11.8
Town
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Olympic Monotype 1924 ★
2.63
O Jolle
Ss Class
1.97
Town
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Olympic Monotype 1924 ★
O Jolle
79
Ss Class
146
Town
129
Hull Speed
Olympic Monotype 1924 ★
O Jolle
5.0 kts
Ss Class
5.0 kts
Town
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