P-class yacht

P-Class
Current Specifications
Crew	1
Type	Monohull
Construction	Wood; Plywood; Fibreglass
Rig	Bermuda rig
LOA	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Main & Jib area	45 sq ft (4.2 m2)
Development
Year	1923
Designer	Harry Highet

The P-Class is a type of small single sail dinghy, popular as a training boat for young people in New Zealand. This class is famous for being the sailing trainer vessel for many new entrants into the sport, and virtually every famous New Zealand yachtsman, including Sir Peter Blake and Russell Coutts, learnt to sail in one.

Origin

The P-Class was designed by New Zealand civil engineer, Harry Highet, as a simple vessel in which children and young people could learn to sail. It is a 2.13 metre long, single hull, single sail Bermuda rigged dinghy, and is designed to be sailed by one person. The Bermudan rig took over from a gunter rig in the 1950s.

The first example appeared at Onerahi near Whangarei on New Year's Day, 1920. However it was not until Highet and his family moved to Tauranga in 1923 that the full potential of his design became apparent. Soon a fleet of a dozen or so boats were racing each weekend on Tauranga Harbour. The P-Class was initially known as the "Tauranga Class". Boats carried the letter "P" on their sails, to indicate they were primary trainers.

By 1940, an Inter-Provincial Competition had been established for the P Class, but this was held only in 1940 and 1941, before lapsing for the rest of World War Two. The competition resumed in 1945, with sailors racing for the Tanner Cup, a trophy donated by Mr George Tanner. A separate Inter-Club competition for the Tauranga Cup began at about the same time. Both competitions are still held annually.

Originally built of solid wood, plywood was introduced in 1956 and fibreglass hulls were allowed in 1975. Aluminium spars were introduced in 1976 and carbon fibre - composite masts, in 1998.The class is a one design class with tight building restrictions ensuring that hulls spars sails and foils are very similar in weight and dimensions.