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Fairwind - One Design One Design Class sanctioned in 2002. The Fairwind is built by One Manufacturer. The Kyosho Fairwind are 36" (900mm) long replicas of International Offshore Racing (IOR) yachts with cabins.
The Fairwind, Fairwind 900, Fairwind II, and Fairwind III model yachts are all included in the One design class.
Class RulesThe Fairwind One Design class is fashioned after IOR offshore racing yacht designs of the 1980s and 1990s. While these IOR designs were not as high tech as modern America's Cup yachts, they proved themselves in ocean racing circuits to be capable of handling offshore conditions and durable enough for long distance races. Similarly, the Fairwind is quite comfortable to sail in a wide range of wind and sea conditions. It can handle large waves that can prevail on sailing areas larger than ponds and it can perform well in a wide range of wind conditions. It also looks great when being displayed on the mantle. The Fairwind is available in kit form in most hobby stores and from several internet hobby supply sources. The kit is easy to put together and quite inexpensive. Because of this there are a large number of boats that have been sold. Several large local fleets of 30 or 40 boats have formed over the years. The one design nature of the boat leads to close, competitive racing with exciting starts, mark roundings, and tactical sailing. The boat is a comfortable size with 900mm (35.43") overall length and 8 pound race ready weight. It is small enough to transport and display, yet large enough to be easy to see from shore while sailing. The kit comes complete with many cosmetic features that can be added to enhance the looks of the boat, or deleted for simplicity. The large amount of freeboard keeps the boat surprisingly dry inside for a boat this size. ​ The Fairwind gained One Design class status in 2002 with the adoption of a set of class rules. The Fairwind One Design class rules control items that affect speed while allowing some degree of latitude in other areas. This targeted approach to the rules minimizes the number of things that the measurers need to measure and the builders need to control while still ensuring a level playing field for racing where the races are won or lost on the racecourse and not on the modeling table. | ||||||||
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Micro Magic - One Design One of the most popular model yachts in the world, the Graupner Micro Magic was designed for racing. Its performance is all out of proportion to its small size. The class is managed by a Class Owners Association that is part of the International Micro Magic Class. 53.5 cm long.
The Micro Magic Class is one of the largest in the world, with affiliated fleets in over a dozen countries spread over four continents. Micro Magic kits were previously manufactured by Graupner of Germany and since 2020 by Hacker Model Production of the Czech Republic. Their design and basic look are patterned after single-handed trans-Atlantic boats popular in Europe called Mini 6.5's. The boat features an ABS hull and deck, carbon fiber spars and high-quality rigging hardware. The standard kit can be assembled with common adhesives and epoxies by builders with novice skills. And pre-assembled ARTR (almost ready to race) boats and good used boats are readily available. The class sails under the well-established International Micro Magic Rules, and is governed in the United States by the Micro Magic Class Owners Association. Micro Magic class yachts can be sailed in a wide variety of wind conditions--from drifters to 30 knot winds utilizing smaller alternate sail rigs which are legal under the class rules. (The picture below shows Micro Magics sailing in strong wind with small rigs.) Their small size (21") and light weight (860 grams minimum) make Micro Magics extremely easy to transport and sail. Despite their size, they are very fast and sail as well as, if not better than, many larger radio-controlled sailboats. Class Website | ||||||||
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Santa Barbara - One Design The Santa Barbara is an original design expressly for model yacht racing with the classic lines of a full-size yacht. This large-sized yacht's hull and keel must be initially purchased from the manufacturer. Decks and sails are strictly controlled, but may be purchased or made from scratch. Almost all other equipment is up to the owner.
70" long.
If you have been looking for a radio controlled model yacht that majestically sails and elegantly maneuvers like a crew driven Maxi or 60 footer, the Santa Barbara One-Design (OD) is for you. The Santa Barbara is a fractional rigged sloop on a 70 inch long hull. It's designed for racing in a range of sailing conditions from performing well in light winds to being, well behaved and manageable in rough waters and 15 knots of wind. It was introduced in 1964 and was one of the first classes to be accepted by the newly formed AMYA in 1971. It is recognized as a modern classic throughout the association. Because of the one-design concept the boats built in the 1960's are competitive to those boats built in the 90's when racing around the buoys. Because of the history of stability in design the Santa Barbara remains popular in the association as a "class boat". The portability of the Santa Barbara is enhanced due to the removable mast, rudder and keel. Most sedans or coupes can transport your yacht to the nearest pond for a day of sailing. | ||||||||
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US 12 - One Design The US12 class is a beautiful full keel, spoon bow yacht of the old America's Cup 12 meter design. She is 46 inches in length with a 16 pound minimum weight, carries a rig of 714 sq. inches of sail area, with a 55 inch hoist. Her "B" rig is 600 sq. inches.
The US12 class is a beautiful full keel, spoon bow yacht of the old America's Cup 12 meter design. She is 46 inches in length with a 16 pound minimum weight, carries a rig of 714 sq. inches of sail area, with a 55 inch hoist. Her "B" rig is 600 sq. inches. She is a great sailing yacht, goes to weather with neutral helm and will track the length of the pond seeking out the wind, and handles wind of 15 knots well before the need to use the B rig.
Class RulesNew boats are available from Blake Moran, bmoran1961@gmail.com/613-438-9070. He is in Canada where the US 12 is called the Mini 12, the same boat with a slightly different keel setup. Meets AMYA requirements. He offers the hull (in several colors), rigging, kit form or completed boat. Can be shipped to Us. Contact him directly for information Or check for used boats on AMYA classified. ​ The rules and specifications were written to attain a one design class, however, flexibility is allowed in sail material and construction ( single panel vs. multi paneled ), mast and boom materials, deck layouts and fittings, internal electronics components and rigging materials and configuration. https://sites.google.com/site/us12meterclassrc/home | ||||||||