The Yankee One-Design Class
89 Years of Extraordinary Sailing
credits
credits
A Burgess Design
The Yankee One-Design was designed by W. Starling Burgess in 1937, immediately after he designed Ranger, the most successful America's Cup boat in history.
Burgess was the first designer to stop guessing about hull shapes and use tank testing to prove that a "bluff" bow (like on Ranger or the Yankees) could be faster than the sharp, overhang bows of the day.
The Yankee's nearly plumb bow was a revolutionary innovation that you now see everywhere on modern racing sailboats.
A Joy To Sail
The Yankee One-Design design brief required high performance in all conditions, from the light airs of Marblehead to the heavy weather of Buzzards Bay.
The result is a boat that sailors fall in love with because it handles gracefully in all kinds of wind. The Yankee's helm is so perfectly balanced that she will sail herself if you let go of the tiller.
A Rare Classic
About forty Yankees were built, mostly in the 1940s, and were raced through the 1960s. When yacht clubs switched to fiberglass designs, the fleets of Yankees were sold to families.
Two more Yankees were built in 1963 and 2010. Today, only about ten are left. They are racing, cruising, and daysailing in the United States, France, Australia, and New Zealand. A few are being restored. A handful of others are suspected to exist but have not been seen in years, and the search for them continues.
Inovation & Evolution
The Yankee One-Design class has always had a spirit of innovation, starting with Burgess, and continuing with boat builders who made small but effective iterative improvements to strengthen the design over the years.
GEMINI (Y44) for Sale
Gemini was the last Yankee One-Design to be built. Its 2010 construction was the subject of a WoodenBoat Magazine article in issue #221.
Gemini has had just one owner, is in excellent condition, and comes fully equipped with a Torqeedo Cruise 4.0 motor & two Torqeedo Power batteries, sails, rigging, lines, fenders, Harken racing hardware and winches, classic bronze hardware from a retired YOD, and all gear. Ready to ship.
Contact Gemini's owner for details →
About this Site
This site is the archive of the Yankee One-Design class — a place to learn about these boats, track down their histories, and contribute what you know. The archive grows with every photograph, story, and document that sailors and families share, and there is still much to discover.
Contact Us:
If you have sailed a YOD, owned one, built one, or have photos or memories to share, we want to hear from you.
The Story Behind the Design
The full history of the Yankee One-Design — including the remarkable story of how Burgess came to design her — was published in WoodenBoat Magazine Issue #221, July/August 2011.
Yankee One-Design Specifications
Length: 30′ 6″
Beam: 6′ 6″
Waterline: 24′
Draft: 4′ 6″
Sail Area: 312 sq ft
Displacement: 4,775 lbs
Lead Keel: 2550 lbs