Celebrating 90 years of the National 12
by Isobel Stewart 26 Jun 08:19 PDT
12 Fest at Rutland © Kevan Bloor
The National 12 class, the boat that brought dinghy racing to the masses, celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, with a number of events planned to mark the occasion.
The celebrations begin on 18th and 19th July at Royal Harwich Yacht Club, with the fourth event of the National Series, an anniversary dinner and a special pursuit race.
For the pursuit race, boat age will determine each boat's handicap, creating an opportunity for boats from across the class's history to compete on a more even footing. With 90 years of development represented on the water, it should provide a fitting way to mark the anniversary.
The Saturday evening dinner will offer National 12 sailors, past and present, as well as friends of the class, the opportunity to come together and celebrate 90 years of National 12 sailing.
Book your tickets here!
The celebrations will continue at the National Championships, Burton Week, which this year will be hosted by Shoreham Sailing Club from Saturday 29th August to Tuesday 1st September.
Burton Week is always a highlight of the National 12 calendar, with four days of racing, the Sir William Burton Cup endurance race, the Burton Week Dinner and prize-giving, alongside a full programme of social events (yet to be announced).
Shoreham Sailing Club last hosted Burton Week in 2021 and will welcome the fleet back for what is expected to be a memorable anniversary championship. The event will include racing on the sea, a large fleet, prizes across a range of boat designs and crew categories, and the annual Burton Week Dinner at Sussex Yacht Club.
Further information and entry details are available through the Burton Week 2026 website.
Anyone interested in getting involved with the anniversary events, or with National 12 sailing more generally, is encouraged to contact the class. Whether you are looking to borrow a boat, find a crew, offer crewing, or simply try a National 12 for the first time, the National 12 Owners' Association can be contacted at .
From 1936 to today
The anniversary also provides an opportunity to reflect on how the class began.
As recorded in a short history of the National Twelves by Robin Stevenson, the class came into being in the Spring of 1936. At the time, the International 14 had become an increasingly expensive class, and there was a clear need for a smaller and more affordable boat that could encourage more people into sailing.
The original objective was simple: to create a practical, competitive and economical two-person dinghy.
The early class rules reflected this. Boats were limited to 12 feet in length, carried no more than 90 square feet of sail and were built in clinker construction. They also had to meet a minimum weight requirement. In 1936, a complete National 12, including sails and battens, could reportedly be bought for around £50.
The class developed quickly. Uffa Fox became very much associated with its early growth, producing designs which proved popular with new owners. By the end of 1936, around 175 National 12s had been built and registered, with a large proportion based on Uffa-King designs.
Ninety years later, the class has changed considerably in terms of materials, design and performance. Modern National 12s are typically built using fibre glass, with carbon masts and booms, winged foils, double-bottoms and increasingly refined hull shapes have all become part of the class's development.
However, the fundamental aims of the class remain recognisable.
The National 12 is still a two-person, two-sail development class, allowing designers and sailors to develop hulls and rigs within the class rules. It continues to offer a wide range of boats, from modern open transom designs and double-bottom designs to Admiral's Cup boats and traditional clinker-built vintage Twelves.
This variety remains one of the strengths of the class. Different designs suit different crew weights, sailing areas and levels of experience, while major events continue to provide prizes and recognition across the fleet and juniors.
The original ambition was to create a boat which would allow more people to enjoy competitive sailing. Today, the class continues to support that aim through coaching, family-friendly events, trial sails, boat-sharing opportunities and an active second-hand market.
While the boats themselves may have evolved considerably since 1935, the National 12 remains a class built around close racing, technical development and a friendly, sociable community.
Our 90th anniversary celebrations will bring together sailors and boats from every era of our history.