Garry Hoyt

Garry Hoyt (1937-2021) was an innovative American yacht designer and sailor best known for founding Freedom Yachts and developing the unstayed Freedom rig. A successful businessman and sailor, Hoyt revolutionized sailing with his carbon fiber masts that required no shrouds or stays, making sailing simpler and safer. His Freedom 40 design dominated offshore racing in the early 1980s. Beyond the Freedom rig, Hoyt designed various other boats and was an advocate for simplifying sailing to make it more accessible. His innovations influenced yacht design and sailing technique, always focusing on making sailing easier and more enjoyable for ordinary sailors.