Welcome to the website of  'The International 12 foot Dinghy Class Association' When Southport solicitor and amateur boat designer George Cockshott, entered a design competition in 1913, little could he have envisaged that the boat that he drew would still be sailing 100 years later. Cockshott's 12 Foot Dinghy went on to become the first small boat to gain international status and was selected for the 1920 and 1928 Olympic Games. Although outclassed by modern boats, its endearing character ensures that it is still sailed and raced enthusiastically by near-fanatical owners around the world. No fewer than 171 Dinghies assembled in the Netherlands during June 2014 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the 12' Dinghy in that country! Since then the Class has continued to prosper in the Netherlands, Italy and Japan, and fleets are growing in various other countries including France, Switzerland and Austria.

Picture of the month - December 2022   Built in the USA Constructed in the Green Mountains, Vermont, by shipwright Keith Mitchell between 2013 - 2016 photo: Keith Mitchell

An October Sail Sailing on the Thunersee - October 2022

Document of the month - July 2022 Schull Harbour Regatta Hand coloured photograph showing 12' Dinghies preparing for Schull Harbour Regatta in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The 'O' sail insignia was adopted to distinguish the boats of the Cork fleet from visiting boats having the same sail numbers. With thanks to: Damian Byrne who submitted this picture. (originally published on this site in May 2010)

This is Mariette, a classic two-masted gaff schooner designed and built by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff in 1915. Originally owned by Harold S. Vanderbilt, she now sails out of Antibes, France, under the French flag. Her Skipper, Charlie Wroe, tells us: "We have an Int. 12 dinghy as a tender. She is called Wizard, named after the nickname of the designer and builder of Mariette. It's a great little boat - we use it for sailing, rowing and as a good sized deck locker.

2020 Vision - 100 years of the International 12-foot Dinghy in the United Kingdom A new book has been published exactly 100 years after K1 Tern became the UK's first International 12-foot Dinghy to receive a class certificate. Part one describes the origins and history of the International 12-foot Dinghy, and documents the rise, the fall, and the hesitant rebirth of the Class in the United Kingdom. Part two sets out to provide a snapshot of the Dinghy Class in the U.K. by highlighting twelve personalities, twelve boats and twelve sailing clubs that have each played a role in the ongoing story. 215 pages with many illustrations Available from amazon.co.uk and other amazon market places (avoid amazon.nl where it is over-priced!)

Contact us:   info@12footdinghy.org