Starling (dinghy)
Encyclopedia
The Starling is a 9 in 6 in (2.9 m) sailing dinghy designed by Des Townson
.
was conceived, and the design commissioned, by John Peet in the late 1960s. At the time, there were no single-handed boats available in New Zealand, for bridging the gap between the P-class
and the adult Finn, OK, Cherokee and Zephyr classes. Many young sailors were leaving the sport because the step to the adult classes was too great. A stepping stone class was required. In consultation with parents of current P class sailors, a set of criteria was formulated for the proposed class:
Des Townson, the designer of the successful Zephyr, Mistral and Dart yachts of the period was approached to design the boat, and he completed this in June 1969. To confirm the simplicity of the construction concept, teenager David Peet built the prototype
as his first boat-building project. The Starling was launched at Westhaven, Auckland
on Anzac weekend 1970. Extensive testing of the prototype was completed over the following months, by dozens of P class sailors. Feedback was very supportive and encouraging, with a great deal of enthusiasm expressed for the concept and the finished prototype.
The prototype Starling was sailing off the Glendowie Boating Club in the early 1970s. Originally, the sail design was fully battened; however, this was changed to the current format after feedback from sailors indicated a flexible sail layout was more suitable.
Quote excerpted from StarlingWebIntroduction.pdf
, and is officially supported by Yachting New Zealand and organised by the Glendowie Boating Club.
Over 1300 boats have been built. The Starling Nationals in 2006 and 2007 had approximately one hundred and fifty entrants per series.
Des Townson
Des Townson, MNZM was a New Zealand yacht designer. He was responsible for designing some of the best-known classes in New Zealand sailing, including the Starling, Zephyr and Dart classes....
.
Origins of the Starling
The Starling class yachtYacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
was conceived, and the design commissioned, by John Peet in the late 1960s. At the time, there were no single-handed boats available in New Zealand, for bridging the gap between the P-class
P-class yacht
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...
and the adult Finn, OK, Cherokee and Zephyr classes. Many young sailors were leaving the sport because the step to the adult classes was too great. A stepping stone class was required. In consultation with parents of current P class sailors, a set of criteria was formulated for the proposed class:
- The boat should cater to teenagers not able to cope with adult monotypes.
- Crew weight could be approximately 50 –.
- The boat should be easily handled in fresh conditions, plane readily and have good windward performance.
- The appearance of the boat to be of high priority.
- Buoyancy to be of P class standard.
- Cockpit space for two teenagers or one adult.
- Construction to be simple.
- Very close restrictions so that all boats to have equal performance; e.g. masts from standard aluminium extrusion, sails from the same material and same loft.
Des Townson, the designer of the successful Zephyr, Mistral and Dart yachts of the period was approached to design the boat, and he completed this in June 1969. To confirm the simplicity of the construction concept, teenager David Peet built the prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
as his first boat-building project. The Starling was launched at Westhaven, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
on Anzac weekend 1970. Extensive testing of the prototype was completed over the following months, by dozens of P class sailors. Feedback was very supportive and encouraging, with a great deal of enthusiasm expressed for the concept and the finished prototype.
The prototype Starling was sailing off the Glendowie Boating Club in the early 1970s. Originally, the sail design was fully battened; however, this was changed to the current format after feedback from sailors indicated a flexible sail layout was more suitable.
Quote excerpted from StarlingWebIntroduction.pdf
Current Starling activities
The Starling is still a popular bridging class between the P Class and senior boats for competitive sailors in many parts of New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and is officially supported by Yachting New Zealand and organised by the Glendowie Boating Club.
Over 1300 boats have been built. The Starling Nationals in 2006 and 2007 had approximately one hundred and fifty entrants per series.
External links
- Starling Web Introduction by John Peet
- Full details of Starling class from Glendowie Boating Club web page
- Yachting New Zealand details on the Starling and P Class
- The google group for New Zealand South Island Starling sailors
- YouTube: Starling sailing in strong winds
- List of Des Townson designs
- Article on the adaptation of the Starling as a two person boat for 10 year olds
- List of Townson Designs - from the Zephyr Owners Association website.
- Grahame Anderson (1999) FAST LIGHT BOATS, a Century of Kiwi Innovation