Comet 16 (International or OD Comet)

Description

The Comet (often referred to as the Comet OD or International Comet) is a classic American one-design racing dinghy designed in 1932 by C. Lowndes Johnson (a renowned Star Class sailor and builder from Easton, Maryland) and originally built by various yards including Skaneateles Boats, Lippincott Boat Works, and others, with modern fiberglass hulls produced by Whitecap Composites (Peabody, MA) as the current exclusive builder. Initially commissioned as a "Star Junior" or trainer for young sailors (originally nicknamed "Crab" before renaming to avoid conflict with the Star Class), it gained rapid popularity after plans appeared in Yachting magazine in 1932, leading to over 4,000 boats built across wooden and fiberglass versions over its 90+ year history, with active fleets still thriving today primarily in the mid-Atlantic U.S. (Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Chesapeake Bay) and Bermuda for high-level double-handed racing suitable for all ages. Outstanding features include its lightweight planing hull (hard chines, arc bottom, Star-like lines for speed and excitement), simple fractional sloop rig with generous sail area for quick planing, centerboard design for easy trailering and shallow-water access, self-rescuing capability in modern builds, and enduring competitiveness where new and vintage boats race evenly.