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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 The oldest footage of the Flying Dutchman class
A look back into our video archive, with an Olympic focus
Posted on 21 Jul
Kiel Week 2024: A sailing festival with all facets
285 extremely varied sailing races between light winds and stormy gusts
Posted on 1 Jul
Kiel Week: Dream races reward long wait for wind
Patience of all active participants and the regatta organisation was required
Posted on 29 Jun
Kiel Week 2024: Strong gusts take their toll
Torn sails, broken masts and 16 injuries were the overall result of a tough day at sea
Posted on 28 Jun
Kiel Week: Danish Dynamite and Samoa double start
The second half of Kiel Week marks the hour of the eight international classes
Posted on 27 Jun
North Sea Regatta concludes successfully
80 races divided into 13 classes on two race courses
Posted on 22 May
The price of heritage
A tale of a city, three towns but one theme, from dinghy historian Dougal Henshall
Posted on 19 Apr
Tony Morgan passes away
The 1964 Olympic silver medallist led a remarkable life
Posted on 10 Apr
Larry Marks
A Golden sailor from a Golden era
Posted on 14 Dec 2023
Stuart Jardine passes away
One of the best known and most highly respected sailors in the UK
Posted on 12 Nov 2023
Bala Easter Regatta
Llyn Tegid provides the most incredible backdrop, as always
Posted on 19 Apr 2023
Olympian Ralph Roberts (87) passes away
Double Olympic rep Ralph Roberts - five times NZ champion in the Finn and FD classes, passes away
Posted on 14 Apr 2023
Sailing World Regatta Series St. Petersburg
A clear plan needed for the final day
Posted on 20 Feb 2023
Sailing World Regatta Series St. Petersburg day 1
A spectacular start for the opening races
Posted on 18 Feb 2023
Australian Flying Dutchman Championship 2023
Henger and Bismark defend their title
Posted on 7 Feb 2023
WA sailors receive Barranjoey Pin recognition
Four sailors recognised for their achievements in Olympic class sailing
Posted on 2 Dec 2022
Finn de siècle
Dougal Henshall digs through early historic photos and stories on the Finn class
Posted on 8 Sep 2022
50 year Olympic Sailing Regatta in Kiel overall
Tempest, Star and Flying Dutchman medals decided
Posted on 21 Aug 2022
50 year Olympic Sailing Regatta in Kiel day 4
Tempest World Championship hat-trick for Markus Wieser & Thomas Auracher
Posted on 20 Aug 2022
50 year Olympic Sailing Regatta in Kiel day 3
Small weather window allows full program
Posted on 19 Aug 2022
50 year Olympic Sailing Regatta in Kiel day 2
Olympic revival suffers from weak wind
Posted on 18 Aug 2022
128th Kiel Week Day 4
First Kiel Week winners from five nations
Posted on 21 Jun 2022
128th Kiel Week Day 3
A lot of patience from all the sailors
Posted on 20 Jun 2022
Flying Dutchman Italian Championship 2022
Nicola and Francesco Vespasiani victorious at Yacht Club Isole di Toscana
Posted on 19 Jun 2022
128th Kiel Week Day 2
Magic Kiwis lead the 29er Euro Cup
Posted on 19 Jun 2022
128th Kiel Week Day 1
42 brilliant races to start with
Posted on 18 Jun 2022
70 years of going Dutch
The UK's part in the history of the Flying Dutchman
Posted on 26 Nov 2021
Three Lost (and Great) Wise Men
In many definitions of greatness, these three sailors tick most of the boxes
Posted on 3 Sep 2021
Hot Wood...
Dougal Henshall charts the success of Fairey Marine's moulded dinghies
Posted on 13 Nov 2020
Crafty Keith - The definition of 'Legend'
Contender and 505 World Champion gracefully retires
Posted on 15 Sep 2020
Links
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Photos

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The Hungarian serial winners in the Flying Dutchman, Szabolcs Majthenyi and Andras Domokos, were also the measure of all things at Kiel Week 2024
© Christian Beeck
Full throttle in the FD full wash: Hungarians Szabolcs Majthenyi/Andras Domokos
© Christian Beeck
Rodney Pattisson, Iain MacDonald-Smith and Superdocious at the National Maritime Museum
© C Houchin
Stuart Jardine in his Flying Dutchman
© Archive
Bala Long Distance Weekend
© John Hunter
Bala Easter Regatta
© John Hunter
Bala Easter Regatta
© John Hunter
Geoff Smale and Ralph Roberts on trapeze sailing their Flying Dutchman, Takapuna ahead of the 1968 Olympic Regatta
© John Mallitte
Alec Stone and Richard Lovett (to leeward) buddy tuning with another FD
© Jessica Barker, Stone Family Archive
Mark Henger (Metung Yacht Club) and Matt Bismark (New Zealand) race their International Flying Dutchman first across the finish line, successfully defending their national title. Behind them are Black Jack and Chill It
© Tom Smeaton
Mark Henger and Matt Bismark were awarded the Australian International Flying Dutchman 2023 Championship trophy, after winning the national title regatta in Corio Bay, Geelong, in early February
© Royal Geelong Yacht Club
Kangaroo Trapper Wins: Andy White on Falcon IX in 1962 with Tasker, who told the Florida press that librarian White was a kangaroo trapper, which was duly reported
© Australian Sailing Team
Kay-Uwe Lüdtke/Kai Schäfers prevailed with a final victory in the FD
© www.segel-bilder.de
Beautiful pictures on the final day
© www.segel-bilder.de
Tension for the victory at the International German Championship in FD: One point separates the 14-time World Champions Szabolcs Majthenyi/András Domokos (Hungary) from the top
© www.segel-bilder.de
Ulli Libor/Ernst Greten (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein) are the oldest crew at the start. Libor won the 1972 Olympic bronze medal off Kiel and is competing in the Revival and FD-IDM 50 years later
© www.segel-bilder.de
The Berlin crew Kay-Uwe Lüdtke/Kai Schäfers is leading the FD with places 1,1,3. The four-time vice world champions are aiming for a podium place
© Sascha Klahn
Julian Bridges takes runner up in the Puffin Island Race - Menai Straits Regatta 2022
© Ian Bradley
Hywel Poole memorial race - 75th Anniversary Weekend at Port Dinorwic
© Alan Williams
Flying Dutchman Italian Championship 2022
© Yacht Club Isole di Toscana
Flying Dutchman Italian Championship 2022
© Yacht Club Isole di Toscana
Flying Dutchman Italian Championship 2022
© Yacht Club Isole di Toscana
Flying Dutchman Italian Championship 2022
© Yacht Club Isole di Toscana
Flying Dutchman Italian Championship 2022
© Yacht Club Isole di Toscana
Flying Dutchman Italian Championship 2022
© Yacht Club Isole di Toscana
Flying Dutchman Italian Championship 2022
© Yacht Club Isole di Toscana
Hungarians Szabolcs Majthényi/András Domoskos leading the Flying Dutchman classa t Kiel Week
© Sascha Klahn / Kieler Woche
Bala Easter Regatta 2022
© John Hunter
Bala Massacre 2022
© John Hunter
Charles Currey (with cup to lips) and International 14 friends discussing the shape of a future performance dinghy which would become the FD
© Austin Farrar Collection / David Chivers
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