The Fairwind, Fairwind 900, Fairwind II, and Fairwind III model yachts are all included in the One design class.
The Fairwind One Design class is fashioned after IOR offshore racing yacht designs of the 1980s and 1990s. While these IOR designs were not as high tech as modern America's Cup yachts, they proved themselves in ocean racing circuits to be capable of handling offshore conditions and durable enough for long distance races. Similarly, the Fairwind is quite comfortable to sail in a wide range of wind and sea conditions. It can handle large waves that can prevail on sailing areas larger than ponds and it can perform well in a wide range of wind conditions. It also looks great when being displayed on the mantle.
The Fairwind is available in kit form in most hobby stores and from several internet hobby supply sources. The kit is easy to put together and quite inexpensive. Because of this there are a large number of boats that have been sold. Several large local fleets of 30 or 40 boats have formed over the years. The one design nature of the boat leads to close, competitive racing with exciting starts, mark roundings, and tactical sailing.
The boat is a comfortable size with 900mm (35.43") overall length and 8 pound race ready weight. It is small enough to transport and display, yet large enough to be easy to see from shore while sailing. The kit comes complete with many cosmetic features that can be added to enhance the looks of the boat, or deleted for simplicity. The large amount of freeboard keeps the boat surprisingly dry inside for a boat this size.
​ The Fairwind gained One Design class status in 2002 with the adoption of a set of class rules. The Fairwind One Design class rules control items that affect speed while allowing some degree of latitude in other areas. This targeted approach to the rules minimizes the number of things that the measurers need to measure and the builders need to control while still ensuring a level playing field for racing where the races are won or lost on the racecourse and not on the modeling table.
The Fairwind One Design class is fashioned after IOR offshore racing yacht designs of the 1980s and 1990s. While these IOR designs were not as high tech as modern America's Cup yachts, they proved themselves in ocean racing circuits to be capable of handling offshore conditions and durable enough for long distance races. Similarly, the Fairwind is quite comfortable to sail in a wide range of wind and sea conditions. It can handle large waves that can prevail on sailing areas larger than ponds and it can perform well in a wide range of wind conditions. It also looks great when being displayed on the mantle.
The Fairwind is available in kit form in most hobby stores and from several internet hobby supply sources. The kit is easy to put together and quite inexpensive. Because of this there are a large number of boats that have been sold. Several large local fleets of 30 or 40 boats have formed over the years. The one design nature of the boat leads to close, competitive racing with exciting starts, mark roundings, and tactical sailing.
The boat is a comfortable size with 900mm (35.43") overall length and 8 pound race ready weight. It is small enough to transport and display, yet large enough to be easy to see from shore while sailing. The kit comes complete with many cosmetic features that can be added to enhance the looks of the boat, or deleted for simplicity. The large amount of freeboard keeps the boat surprisingly dry inside for a boat this size.
​ The Fairwind gained One Design class status in 2002 with the adoption of a set of class rules. The Fairwind One Design class rules control items that affect speed while allowing some degree of latitude in other areas. This targeted approach to the rules minimizes the number of things that the measurers need to measure and the builders need to control while still ensuring a level playing field for racing where the races are won or lost on the racecourse and not on the modeling table.