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Flying Dutchman

Flying Dutchman

Designed in 1952, the Flying Dutchman has stood the test of time and continues to provide exhilarating performance sailing for everyone. With a long and prestigious career as an Olympic class, the Flying Dutchman (FD) has attracted some of the UK's most well known sailors including Rodney Patisson, Keith Musto and Adrian Stead. The FD is well supported in the UK and Internationally through active class associations who provide training, open meetings, regional events, National, European and World Championships each year in locations as far apart as Whitstable and Australia.
Progressive rule changes have allowed the class to embrace new technology as it has become available including the introduction of composite construction and carbon spars. While exciting, these changes have been carefully managed to avoid making older boats obsolete. Author: Toby Dale

© Catherine James © Catherine James
Show news Kieler Woche 2026 Day 9
Hungarians claim 15th FD Worlds title
Posted on 28 Jun
Kieler Woche 2026 Day 8
Record-breaking heat stifles the sailing wind
Posted on 27 Jun
Kieler Woche 2026 Day 7
Sailing like in the Caribbean
Posted on 26 Jun
Kieler Woche 2026 Day 6
29er Eurocup starts with a strong Polish performance
Posted on 25 Jun
Kieler Woche 2026 day 5
The medal races were held only in the two skiff disciplines
Posted on 24 Jun
High tension ahead of the Kieler Woche Medal Races
Six different nations are on course for gold
Posted on 23 Jun
Kieler Woche 2026 day 4
Dixi 5 and Niramo win the IDM-gold medal
Posted on 23 Jun
Kieler Woche 2026 day 3
Ole Schweckendiek takes the lead in the ILCA 7
Posted on 23 Jun
New formats aim to secure sailing's Olympic future
This year, sailing fans can look forward to two medal races in the Olympic classes
Posted on 31 May
Kieler Woche feedback optimizes service quality
Sailors from up to 60 nations are once again expected to attend
Posted on 23 May
Wellerd takes P1 in wet and windy Crawford Pursuit
Another windy, stormy and cold Sunday in Plymouth Sound
Posted on 1 Apr
Flying Dutchman AUS Championship overall
Capsizes, gear damage and retirements whittled the fleet down to six in the last race
Posted on 3 Feb
Flying Dutchman AUS Championship race 5
Multiple retirements and capsizes
Posted on 1 Feb
Flying Dutchman Australian Championship day 3
There were a few sore bodies and a fair bit of gear damage being repaired
Posted on 30 Jan
Flying Dutchman Australian Championship day 2
A mixed bag of results for sailors on Lake King at Metung
Posted on 26 Jan
Flying Dutchman Australian Championship day 1
Four-time world champions amongst the leaders at Metung Yacht Club
Posted on 25 Jan
Flying Dutchman Australian Championship preview
Metung Yacht Club is also hosting the Etchells East Gippsland Championship
Posted on 21 Jan
Kieler Woche boosts top regatta program for 2026
Olympic classes will once again form a single unit in the first half of the week
Posted on 20 Jan
The passing of one of the greats of WA Sailing
Remembering Don Devine
Posted on 21 Oct 2025
Australia's 1980 Olympic Sailing Team Reunites
A gathering marked by reflection, reconciliation, and long-overdue recognition
Posted on 1 Oct 2025
Sailing's Lost Olympic Dream
Honouring the 1980 Yachting Team
Posted on 30 Jul 2025
Kieler Woche Day 10
Seven nations celebrate victories at the finale
Posted on 29 Jun 2025
SGS Gold at Kieler Woche goes to France and GB
The best German team, Theresa Löffler and Christopher Hoerr, finished fifth
Posted on 29 Jun 2025
Kieler Woche Day 9
Hosts without Sailing Grand Slam medals, but leading in five classes
Posted on 29 Jun 2025
Sail On Alistair 'Storky' McLaughlin
Untimely passing of a truly outstanding sailing talent
Posted on 29 Apr 2025
Olympic sailing videos part 2
Yachting footage from the 1970s to 1990s Games
Posted on 1 Jan 2025
Olympic sailing videos part 1
Yachting footage from the 1920s to 1960s Games
Posted on 29 Dec 2024
The oldest footage of the Flying Dutchman class
A look back into our video archive, with an Olympic focus
Posted on 21 Jul 2024
Kiel Week 2024: A sailing festival with all facets
285 extremely varied sailing races between light winds and stormy gusts
Posted on 1 Jul 2024
Kiel Week: Dream races reward long wait for wind
Patience of all active participants and the regatta organisation was required
Posted on 29 Jun 2024
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Photos

Show photos from

Kieler Woche 2026 - Day 9
© Christian Beeck / Kieler Woche
They are once again the benchmark in the FD class: Szabolcs Majthenyi and András Domokos (Hungary) claimed their 15th World Championship title at Kieler Woche
© Christian Beeck / Kieler Woche
The Danish brothers Jørgen and Jacob Bojsen-Møller (70 and 72), two veteran champions in a class of their own, were the early leaders at the FD World Championship held as part of Kieler Woche
© Sascha Klahn / Kieler Woche
World Championship start off Kiel-Schilksee: The Flying Dutchman in their first race of the World Championship
© Christian Beeck / Kieler Woche 2026
The Flying Dutchman class expects more than 70 boats for the World Championship during Kieler Woche, including the entire World Championship podium from the previous year
© Christian Beeck
Crawford Pursuit Race at Plym Yacht Club
© Emily Borner
Despite gear problems in race one, Matt Draper and Thomas Stuchbery in Freight Train AUS001 won races two, three and four, and placed second in race five and six
© Jeanette Severs
David Gibb and John Bailey added international flavour to the regatta, bringing their sails from Port Nelson, New Zealand, and borrowing Lupicus from multiple World and Australian champion, Ian McCrossin, from NSW
© Jeanette Severs
Darren Hocking,, and winner race one and the Albert Gold Cup trophy, Matt Draper, skipper of Freight Train AUS001 & the new 2026 Australian FD champion, Rafe Heale, skipper of Power AUS7 and runner-up, & Peter Bevis, crew with Ian McCrossin on Lupicus 60
© Jeanette Severs
Matt Draper and Thomas Stuchbery in Freight Train AUS001 are the 2026 Flying Dutchman Australian champions
© Jeanette Severs
Darren Hocking, president of the Australian FD Association, presents the championship trophy to Matt Draper, skipper of Freight Train AUS001 and the new 2026 Australian FD champion. Metung Yacht Club Commodore, Peter Kanat, is on the right
© Jeanette Severs
Rafe Heale and Tom Watson on Power AUS7 speed to the finish line, well ahead of the fleet in race six, for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia
© Jeanette Severs
David Gibb and John Bailey on Lupicus NZL112 and Rafe Heale and Tom Watson on Power AUS7 sprint away from the start line in race six, for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia
© Jeanette Severs
Rafe Heale and Tom Watson on Power AUS7 led around the wing marker and power towards the leeward gate, in race six, for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia. In their wake, Matt Draper and Thomas Stuchbery
© Jeanette Severs
Gary Cameron and Darren Hocking on Blu Tak AUS338 won race one convincingly in the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship regatta – which garnered them the prestigious Albert Gold Cup
© Jeanette Severs
Despite no spinnaker on their downwind leg in race six, David Gibb and John Bailey on Lupicus NZL112 were only 5.5 minutes behind the leader
© Jeanette Severs
Gary Cameron and Darren Hocking in Blu Tak AUS338 pull their spinnaker aboard after finishing race six in the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia
© Jeanette Severs
Rafe Heale uses all his experience to maximise speed and Tom Watson hikes out on Power AUS7 at the start of race six, for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia
© Jeanette Severs
Freight Train AUS001 surfs waves with Matt Draper and Thomas Stuchbery aboard in race six, for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia
© Jeanette Severs
Gary Cameron and Darren Hocking in Blu Tak AUS338 was the third boat around the leeward mark in race six, and kicked up water as they sailed toward the windward gates; for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Australia
© Jeanette Severs
Nick Meijer and Charlie Edwards in Circus Oz AUS31 are the last boat to the leeward mark in race six of the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia
© Jeanette Severs
Waves roll over Freight Train AUS001 as Matt Draper and Thomas Stuchbery aim her towards the windward gates in race six, for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia
© Jeanette Severs
Rafe Heale and Tom Watson on Power AUS7 take on the high waves on their way to the second rounding of the windward gates, in race six, for the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship, held at Metung, Victoria, Australia
© Jeanette Severs
David Gibb helms Lupicus NZL112 while John Bailey neatly drops the spinnaker as they cross the finish line in third place in race five of the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship regatta
© Jeanette Severs
Gary Cameron and Darren Hocking on Blu Tak AUS338 sailed the second downwind leg without a spinnaker, in race five of the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship regatta
© Jeanette Severs
Ian McCrossin and Peter Bevis on Lupicus 60 AUS33 on approach to the finish line of race five of the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship regatta
© Jeanette Severs
Five races down and one to go, the exhaustion shows on the faces of David Ham and Finn Buckley of Green Eggs and Ham AUS32 as they cross the finish line in the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship regatta. They retired at the end of this race
© Jeanette Severs
A rising wind and rolling seas challenged Gary Cameron and Darren Hocking on Blu Tak AUS338, sailing the second downwind leg without a spinnaker, in race five of the Flying Dutchman 2026 Australian championship regatta
© Jeanette Severs
A RIB crew checks the welfare of Michael Wood and Wayne Smith on Whoosh, upturned after achieving the leeward mark and right in the way of the Flying Dutchman fleet on their way to the finish line
© Jeanette Severs
In the background, Michael Wood and Wayne Smith on Whoosh, upturned after achieving the leeward mark on the first leg, while Rafe Heale and Tom Watson on Power AUS7 approach the finish line with a strong lead in the Flying Dutchman AUS regatta race five
© Jeanette Severs
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