Welcome to the Go Sail Dinghy Hub. Whether you are looking for your first boat, researching technical specifications for a racing class, or seeking tips on dinghy maintenance, you’ve come to the right place.
What is a Sailing Dinghy?
Unlike a yacht, which relies on a heavy keel for stability, a sailing dinghy is a lightweight, open-cockpit boat. Stability is managed by the crew using their body weight—a process known as “hiking out.” This makes dinghy sailing one of the most exciting, responsive, and affordable ways to get on the water.
Choose the Right Dinghy
Dinghies are generally categorized into four main types. Understanding these will help you find the perfect match for your skill level and goals:
- Single-Handers: Designed for solo sailors. These range from the stable Optimist (for kids) to the Olympic-standard Laser/ILCA.
- Double-Handers: Boats built for two people (Helm and Crew). Popular examples include the versatile GP14 and the classic Enterprise.
- Family & Cruising Dinghies: Larger, more stable boats like the Wanderer or Wayfarer, designed for day trips and picnics.
- High-Performance Skiffs: For those seeking speed. These often feature trapezes and asymmetric spinnakers, such as the RS800 or 49er.
Explore Our Dinghy Database
We maintain technical specifications for over 150 classes. Use our database to compare boat weights, sail areas, and hull materials. We are actively looking for sailing dinghy related information especially photos, your experiences, sailing dinghy hints and tips, restoring old boats, in fact anything related to sailing dinghies. If you wish to submit any information then please contact us.
If you are thinking about giving dinghy sailing a try then we have some useful information. See our starting dinghy sailing page for if you are a beginner. If you are looking to buy a sailing dinghy then see our buyers page.
Single Handed Sailing Dinghies
Blaze | Topper Topaz Uno | Byte | Comet | Concept302 | Contender | Dabchick | Europe | Foxer | Finn | International Canoe | Laser | Laser Funboat | Laser Vago | Laser Pico | Laser Vortex | Lido 14 | Mirror | Nipper | Ok | Optimist | Phantom | RS Feva | RS Vareo | RS300 | RS600 | Solo | Splash | Streaker | Supernova | Topper
Double Handed Sailing Dinghies
420 | Albacore | Bosun | Cadet | Cherub | Comet Duo | E-Scow | Enterprise | Escape 12 | Fireball | Flying 15 | Fusion 15 |GP14 | Graduate | Gull | Gull Calypso | Gull Spirit | Heron | Hornet | Kestrel | Lark | Laser 2 | Laser 2000 | Laser 3000 | Laser 4000 | Lightning | M-20 Scow | M16 Scow | Melges M17 | Merlin Rocket | Miracle | Mirror | National 12 | Norfolk Punt | Osprey | Pacer | RS Elite | RS200 | RS400 | Sandhopper | Scorpion | Seafly | Snipe | Spearhead | Tasar | Topper Buzz | Topper Magno | Topper Spice | Topper Taz | Topper Topaz Uno | Wanderer | Wayfarer | Yachting World Dayboat |
Multihull / Catamaran
A Class | Catapult | Dart 15 | Formula 18 | Hurricane | Minicat 310 | Shadow | Vortex | Weta Trimaran