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One Design Profile: Star Class
April 27, 2013 by Sail1Design Editor Leave a Comment
“The class of champions”
In the past one hundred years, the Star has established itself at the forefront of the international sailing community. The first one-design class and core Olympic racing yacht since 1932, the Star attracts sailors of varying ages and skill levels from all over the world. With nearly 2,000 boats competing annually and over 170 active fleets world-wide, the development of the class is not likely to slow down in the foreseeable future.
Designed in 1911 by naval architect Francis Sweisguth, the Star was born to replace the 17-foot “Bug,” which was one of the most popular keelboats at the time. By May 1911, the first Star class regatta was held on Long Island Sound and featured five of Sweisguth’s new boats. By 1922, the Stars already numbered in the hundreds, thus leading to the foundation of the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association (ISCYRA).
Just under twenty-three feet in length, the hull is long and narrow and features an integrated bulb keel positioned just aft of the mast. In adherence to strict class rules, the Star weighs 1,479 pounds and is typically constructed of fiberglass. Older wooden hulls can still be found from time to time, but rarely in competition. The hull has gentle, sweeping chines leading toward the water line that not only provide a speed advantage, but attribute to the yacht’s aesthetically pleasing appearance.
During the yacht’s one hundred year history, new features have been incorporated into the design in an effort to maintain the class’ position as the pinnacle of the international racing community. The class association began asserting a control over new refinements, not to stifle progress, but to maintain a level of competition based more on the skill of the sailor than the technological advancements of the yacht. Some of the features include:
- Adjustable jib leads
- Crew hiking vest
- Suction bailers
- Unique, circular boom vang
- Whisker pole
- Strict class association sail measurements
One of the interesting features of the Star is the hiking vest. The vest is worn by the crew and allows him or her to adopt a unique hiking position by “drooping” their body over the side of the hull. In addition to the vest, the Star also features a circular vang system. Designed for the star, but eventually adopted other classes, the circular vang system provides a safe means to deal with the enormous loads of the yacht’s large sail plan.
Numerous champions of the sailing world spent time sailing the Star and hold prestigious international titles. A Star Class World Championship is often considered on the most coveting trophies in all of sailing. Despite the high level of competition at top tier events, the Star also offers opportunities to local and amateur sailors. The depth of skill level and opportunity is unrivaled by any other racing class. Sailors looking to compete at the local level can often gain experience with the boat and progress up through the levels of competition, not to mention enjoy the thrill of sailing such an incredible boat.
Get involved with the Star Class! If you want to begin racing there are plenty of Stars out there looking for a good home. Thanks to the regulation in design features, many older Stars perform just as well as their newer counterparts and run at affordable prices. If you are a former college sailor or young professional looking to stay active at the highest level of competition or looking for a fast boat to sail at the local level perhaps a Star should be your next boat…
Sadly, in 2011, it was decided that the keelboats would be removed as an Olympic class following the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Recently rumors began to circulate of comeback for the 2016 Games; however these were quashed almost immediately by the ISCYRA. Despite being struck from the Olympic books the Star class has showed no signs of losing momentum. Huge turnouts for Barcardi Race Week and the 2012 Star Winter Series appear to have breathed new life into the yacht. With hundreds of local regattas scheduled this year and dozens at the internationals and championship level, the Star class remains strong
Draft: 3.3’
Sail Area: 285 sq. ft.
# Boats Built: 8,400
Active Fleets: MD, FL, CA, NY, CT, MA, RI, VA
Website: http://www.starclass.org/index.shtml
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NORTH SAILS ONE DESIGN BEGAN WITH STAR SAILS
The International Star class represents the pinnacle of one-design sailing excellence, known for its demanding competition and rich history. At North Sails, we leverage our expertise and cutting-edge sail technology to create sails that provide unrivaled speed, control, and durability that have dominated this renowned racing fleet for years. Our commitment to innovation and performance has made us the trusted choice of World champions and elite sailors in the Star class.
All-Purpose
Light-Medium
Super-Light
Light-Medium | Choppy Water
All-Purpose | Choppy Water
All-Purpose | Flat Water
STAR TUNING GUIDE
The North Sails Star Tuning Guide is a resource for Star class sailors aiming to optimize their performance on the racecourse. Packed with expert advice and detailed instructions, this guide covers rig setup, sail trim, and tuning techniques, helping you unlock your Star boat's full potential.
STAR EXPERTS
UNITED STATES
ALLAN TERHUNE
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Class Contact Information
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Class Email
Class Website
One-Design Class Type: Radio Control
Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both
Approximately how many class members do you have? Approximately 1,000 Star 45s have been registered with the class; not all are currently active.
Photo Credit:Jim Flach
Photo Credit: Brian FitzSimons
Photo Credit: Jim Flach
About STAR 45
The Star 45 is a 45″ long hard chine, semi-scale model of the legendary full-size International Star boat. Star 45s can be home-built using plans available from the AMYA, partially fabricated with major components available from suppliers, or purchased custom built to any stage of completion from class-approved builders. Available laser-cut frames for wood construction produce a consistent competitive hull. Fiberglass hulls, decks, short kits and parts as well as complete boats are available from class suppliers; contact information for them can be found on the class website. The Star 45 is big enough to sail like a full-size boat, but is easily managed and small enough to be transported in any car. It is sophisticated enough to be a good trainer, offering the racing sailor full adjustability, but not overwhelming to a newcomer. Star 45 racing is very competitive. We’re looking for new skippers who want to race!
Boats Produced: Approximately 1,000 boats have been registered with the class; not all are currently active, and undoubtedly some have been built that are not registered.
Class boat builder(s):
Chesapeake Performance Models (Dave Ramos) – (410) 604-3907 http://www.rcyachts.com Complete boats, short kits, rig kits, parts Lippincott Model Boat Works (Ryan Lippincott) – (856) 924-1032 http://lippincottmodel.com Complete boats or subassemblies as required Stevens Aeromodel – (719) 387-4187 https://www.stevensaero.com Laser-cut frames, keel & rudder Modellers Workshop – (514) 973-7741 https://modellers-workshop.com/category/laser-cut-frames Laser-cut frames
Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? About 1,000
Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:
Star 45s are raced in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the United States, plus Texas, Chicago and Northern California. There is some activity in other locations as well and new fleets are encouraged. You can form one!
Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker?
How many people sail as a crew including the helm? One
Ideal combined weight of range of crew: N.A.
Portsmouth Yardstick Rating: N.A.
Boat Designed in The International Star Class on which the Star 45 is modeled originated in 1910-1911; the first Star 45 was registered with AMYA in 1970; fiberglass hulls arrived in 1976
Length (feet/inches): 45 inches
Beam: 11-12 inches
Weight of rigged boat without sails: Approx. 12 lbs. Minimum weight ready to sail with rig and battery is 12-1/2 lbs.
Draft: Keel may not exceed 11-1/2 inches below the hull bottom. Total draft would be in the neighborhood of 12-1/2 inches.
Mast Height: 70 inches above deck
Class Rules (PDF Doc)
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- Sailboat Guide
Star (International)
Star (International) is a 22 ′ 8 ″ / 6.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Francis Sweisguth and built by Folli Boats (LARIOVELA s.n.c.), Lillia (Cantiere Nautico Lillia), Binks Yacht Contructions, Abeking & Rasmussen, Lippincott Boat Works, Blanchard Boat Co., Eichenlaub Boat Co., Buchan Boat Co., Costantini (Chantier Naval Costantini), and Mader Bootswerft starting in 1911.
Rig and Sails
Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.
The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.
Classic hull speed formula:
Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL
Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL
Sail Area / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.
SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3
- SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
- D : Displacement in pounds.
Ballast / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.
Ballast / Displacement * 100
Displacement / Length Ratio
A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.
D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
Comfort Ratio
This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.
Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
- LOA: Length overall in feet
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
Capsize Screening Formula
This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.
CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)
The STAR, among the most prestigious, competitive, and enduring one-design classes, was first selected for the Olympic games in 1932 and continued in that role until 2012. Supported by a worldwide association, the STAR as a class has been one of the best organized in sailing, with more than 7,500 yachts built over its 100 year history.
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About the Star. The Star is one of the most prolific keelboats in the world for a reason: it is an incredible boat to sail. Designed in 1911 by Francis Sweisguth, it has proven to be a classic in every sense. It is the oldest Olympic class, having first been used in competition in 1932, and still at the heart of that competition today.
The Star is a 6.9 metres (23 ft) one-design racing keelboat for two people designed by Francis Sweisguth in 1910. The Star was an Olympic keelboat class from 1932 through to 2012, the last year keelboats appeared at the Summer Olympics.. It is sloop-rigged, with a mainsail larger in proportional size than any other boat of its length. Unlike most modern racing boats, it does not use a ...
Notes. The STAR, among the most prestigious, competitive, and enduring one-design classes, was first selected for the Olympic games in 1932 and continued in that role until 2012. Supported by a worldwide association, the STAR as a class has been one of the best organized in sailing, with more than 7,500 yachts built over its 100 year history.
Star Class is the premier one-design racing keel boat in the world, with a history of 100 years and Olympic participation. Learn about the boat, the sailors, the events and the organization of this global sailing community.
How to Follow the 2024 Star World Championship. August 28, 2024 | Author: San Diego Yacht Club | Championships Worlds. The Star World Championship returns to San Diego, California, for the first time in over a decade, September 7-13, 2024. San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) expects upwards of 65 Star boats on the starting line under sunny, S...
Learn about the Star Class, the first one-design and Olympic racing yacht since 1932. Discover its design, performance, features and global fleet of nearly 2,000 boats.
The Star World Championship returns to San Diego, California, for the first time in over a decade, September 7-13, 2024. San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) expects upwards of 60 Star boats on the starting line under sunny, SoCal skies for this competitive class, promising an unforgettable regatta experience on and off the water.
The Star Class offers world-class racing at it's best! Winter racing in Miami. Cutting edge technology. More than 2000 racing worldwide. ... Carlsson Boats - Sweden. Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 100. Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country: Nationwide with larger ...
The North Sails Star Tuning Guide is a resource for Star class sailors aiming to optimize their performance on the racecourse. Packed with expert advice and detailed instructions, this guide covers rig setup, sail trim, and tuning techniques, helping you unlock your Star boat's full potential. Dominate the Star class with North Sails' cutting ...
Posted September 10, 2022. The Eastern Yacht Club on Boston's north shore, one of the USA's most preeminent clubs, is home to the 2022 Star Class World Championship presented by Bacardi from September 8-17. Marking the 100 th Anniversary since the first Star Worlds in 1922, the Championship represents a significant moment in history ...
About STAR 45. The Star 45 is a 45″ long hard chine, semi-scale model of the legendary full-size International Star boat. Star 45s can be home-built using plans available from the AMYA, partially fabricated with major components available from suppliers, or purchased custom built to any stage of completion from class-approved builders.
The Star is one of the oldest one-design class sail boat. There are World Championship competitions for the best skippers. This recording was made on 16 mm f...
Star (International) is a 22 ′ 8 ″ / 6.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Francis Sweisguth and built by Folli Boats (LARIOVELA s.n.c.), Lillia (Cantiere Nautico Lillia), Binks Yacht Contructions, Abeking & Rasmussen, Lippincott Boat Works, Blanchard Boat Co., Eichenlaub Boat Co., Buchan Boat Co., Costantini (Chantier Naval Costantini), and Mader Bootswerft starting in 1911.
Star Sailors League. Welcome to the International Star Class, home of the premier one-design racing keel boat in the world. For 100 years Star sailors have led the way in advancing the sport of competitive sailing, and have been honored by sailing in the Olympic Games since 1932. With over 2,200 members and fleets in 38 countries, Star Class ...
Day two of the 2021 Star Western Hemisphere was as perfect as day one, with clear blue sky, azure flat water and a steady 12-15 knot breeze blowing from South East. ... The Star boat is often seen as one of the finest, most challenging classes to compete in. It requires dedication and hard work to be successful. This weekend, 26 sailors made ...
Star Sailboat Parts & Equipment . Class Description. The Star is one of the most prolific keelboats in the world for a reason: it is an incredible boat to sail. Designed in 1911 by Francis Sweisguth, it has proven to be a classic in every sense. It is the oldest Olympic class, having first been used in competition in 1932, and still at the ...
Star - World Sailing
Newport Harbor in Los Angeles, California, has put on a great show for Day One of the 2024 Star North American Championship. The breeze ranged from light to above 10 knots, allowing the 26-boat fleet to finish two fair races with lots of lead changes and tight competition. Race One started with a nice 11-knot breeze after an abandonment, a few ...
ISCYRA Central Office 2812 Canon Street | San Diego, California 92106 USA Phone: +1 619 224 6998 | Fax: +1 619 222 0528 [email protected]
The conditions in San Diego have been nothing short of amazing for the 2024 Star World Championship 2024. The 64-boat fleet sailed again today in 10-12 knots breeze with gusts up to 15, slightly more southerly than the previous days. It proved to be a challenging and exciting day at the same time, and the results in this race, added to the ...
In Star Boats. By David Bolles. When the Star was designed in November 1910 in the office of William Gardner, there was no thought given to the idea that the Star boat would outgrow its being used as a local New York / New England one-design racer. While the hull was built at various boatyards, Gardner's office was the designer and provider ...
Star Boat buy/sell - charter. Public group. ·. 1.5K members. Join group. Star boats has the best life when they are sailing. Here you can sell or buy your Star. Also a marketplace for equipment sails, masts or spare parts....
The original STAR class boats of 1911 evolved from another smaller boat called the BUG, built in 1906. The the first batch of 22 were built in the winter of 1910-1911 by Isaac Smith at Port Washington NY. Stars continued with the gaff rig until a short Marconi rig became an option in 1920. Measurements are from the original Gardner plans dated ...
History. The Star Class was founded at Port Washington, Long Island, in 1911. Initially 22 Stars were built. Fifteen went to owners at the American Yacht Club in Rye, New York, and the remainder to other clubs on Western Long Island Sound. Since then the rig has been improved and modernized several times, but the hull design remains unchanged.