South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association

Y-Flyer

The Y-flyer is a great tactical racing machine. It’s an 18 foot, 500 pound minimum, centerboard boat with fast hull and controls to make it go fast. The Y is usually raced by 2 people (skipper and crew). The Y-Flyer’s unique design makes it a fast, fun boat that anyone can sail. The class has an active racing program, but it is also a great boat for a day of pleasure sailing.

There are over 20 regattas for Y-Flyers each year, and fleet racing primarily in the Southeast and Midwest. A National Championship regatta is held every year in mid June, and an International Championship is held every other year. Locations change yearly and include small and large inland lakes, major rivers, and ocean-front bays.

The same design features that make the Y a stable and comfortable boat also make it fast and fun to sail. If you like speed, you’ll love the Y-Flyer! It will plane in just 10 m.p.h. of wind, but isn’t overpowered until winds reach 25-30 m.p.h. Both new and experienced sailors enjoy the Y-Flyer.　

There is no spinnaker or trapeze, so you don’t have to be “super-athletic” to sail the boat. Control lines are easy to find, and don’t require great strength to operate — they can easily be adjusted by anyone. In fact, many racing Y’s are sailed by two members of the same family — husband and wife or parent and child.

y flyer

Most Y’s are fiberglass and require little maintenance. Some older wood boats are available or you can build your own from plywood using available detailed plans and instructions. Our builder, Chet Turner of Turner Marine, can build a fiberglass boat with graphics and colors to match your interest. Whether professionally built or home built, all Y-Flyers, new or old, are built to a set of strict class rules. This means older boats can be raced competitively, and so the cost of getting started into racing a Y-Flyer competitively can be quite modest.

Y-Flyers have an active junior racing program for those 18 and under as many regattas have at least one junior race. There is a 4-race Junior Championship at each year’s Nationals. Many kids also crew in the “Senior” races — some even skipper!

Children often race with their parents and some sail by themselves before they’re 10. There are also Y sailors in their 70’s. Some people have been sailing Y’s for over 30 years, and there are a few families with four generations of Y sailors.

You can step anywhere on the Y-Flyer without it feeling “tippy.” Generous non-skid areas on the foredeck and cockpit give you sure footing at all times. The wide, smooth decks are comfortable to sit on — and easy on the legs when you hike out. In the event of a capsize, an optional mast head floatation panel usually keeps the Y from turtling, making it easy to right even for one adult or a couple of kids. No need for a power boat to help you and you won’t be exhausted . . . important safety considerations. The boat is self-bailing, eliminating the need for a hand pump or a tow to shore — you can go right on sailing!

If you get hot, just jump in! The low sides, wide deck and stable design make it easy to climb back aboard after a swim.

In the Southeast, Y-Flyers have the Helmsman Series. Skippers compete for the annual Helmsman trophy by sailing in a series of six regattas. Add the Mid-winters at Columbia, SC, a large regatta at Atlanta every year, Nationals, and many other regattas in other parts of the country, and you can see there are plenty of opportunities to test your racing skills with the Y-Flyer.

y flyer

For more information contact:

Dan Eskew VP for Area 3 (NC & SC) area-3@yflyer.org

Shelby Hatcher VP for Area 7 (GA & FL) area-7@yflyer.org