12 Square Meter Skiff

Description

The 12 Square Meter Sharpie (12 m² Skiff) is a historic, high-performance development class racing dinghy originating in 1920s Germany and governed by strict International Sharpie rules that mandate exactly 12 m² (129 ft²) of sail area—typically a bermudan sloop with mainsail and jib on a tall, flexible aluminum mast—while allowing hull evolution within a 5.99 m (19.65 ft) LOA, 1.42 m beam, and 136 kg minimum weight, resulting in narrow, flat-bottomed, hard-chine plywood or composite skiffs with planning hulls, trapeze, and twin hiking wings. Renowned for blistering speed (capable of 20+ knots downwind), demanding crew work, and close one-design racing, the class has produced over 6,000 boats worldwide, thriving in Europe, Australia, and the U.S. through national fleets and World Championships, with modern builds featuring carbon rigs and foiling experiments under open development rules. Lightweight and trailerable, the 12 m² Sharpie remains a pinnacle of two-person skiff sailing, blending vintage heritage with cutting-edge performance.