Comet (Racing Dinghy)
Encyclopedia
The Comet is a single handed, one design racing dinghy available with three separate rigging options: Standard, Xtra and Mino, that can be raced competitively alongside each other. It is mainly sailed in the United Kingdom
at club level and at open meetings organised by the Comet Class Association. The Comet is a recognised RYA
dinghy class.
, rear mainsheet (with centre mainsheet permitted under class rules) and an unbattened sail
with a sleeve luff on an unstayed rig. The hull and deck is manufactured from glass-reinforced plastic
and available in a number of colour combinations.
The sail area of 70 square feet (6.5 m²) for the standard Comet rig is slightly less than for the International Laser Standard
. The mast
is in two sections and is loose footed like the Laser rig.
Latest sail numer: 800 (approximate)
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at club level and at open meetings organised by the Comet Class Association. The Comet is a recognised RYA
Rya
A rya is a traditional Scandinavian wool rug with a long pile of about 1 to 3 inches. They were made using a form of the Ghiordes knot to make the double-sided pile fabric. Though rya means "rug" in English, the original meaning in Sweden of rya was a bed cover with a knotted pile...
dinghy class.
Specifications
The Comet has a large uncluttered cockpitCockpit (sailing)
In the Royal Navy, the term cockpit originally referred to the area where the coxswain was stationed. This led to the word being used to refer to the area towards the stern of a small decked vessel that houses the rudder controls...
, rear mainsheet (with centre mainsheet permitted under class rules) and an unbattened sail
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
with a sleeve luff on an unstayed rig. The hull and deck is manufactured from glass-reinforced plastic
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
and available in a number of colour combinations.
The sail area of 70 square feet (6.5 m²) for the standard Comet rig is slightly less than for the International Laser Standard
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
. The mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
is in two sections and is loose footed like the Laser rig.
Latest sail numer: 800 (approximate)
Rigging Options
- Standard: 70 sq ft (6.5 m²)
- Xtra (Mylar Sail): 65 sq ft (6 m²) and a 570 mm shorter mast.
- Mino: 54 sq ft (5 m²) and a 570 mm shorter mast. PYN 1193