One Design Class

A one-design class restricts every boat to the same hull, rig, and sail dimensions within tight tolerances, so races test the crew rather than the wallet or the designer. Classes range from the children’s Optimist through Olympic dinghies such as the ILCA to keelboats like the J/70 and Etchells. A class association controls the rules and equipment, and most are administered or recognized by World Sailing. The opposite is a development class, where designers innovate within a box rule.