Description
The Banshee (also known as the Banshee 13) is an American high-performance one-design sailing dinghy designed by Richard L. Reid and first built in 1969 by Marine Plastics in Foster City, California. As demand grew, production was subcontracted to various yards, and in 1972, Barry Bruch formed Banshee International, Inc., which took over manufacturing until the mid-1980s. Abbott Boats in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, was licensed to build up to 500 units, though the exact total production is unknown (estimates suggest several hundred worldwide). It's celebrated as a fast, responsive daysailer and racer, predating the Laser by a year and competing directly with it in the 13-foot class. The lightweight fiberglass construction, cat rig, and daggerboard make it ideal for single-handed or short-handed (1–2 people) racing in protected waters like bays or lakes, with a Portsmouth Yardstick rating of 93.7 (indicating speed comparable to a Laser at 91.3).
