International 10 Sq.m. Sailing Canoe
For over one hundred years racing sailing canoes has fascinated, exasperated, intrigued and even infuriated some of the world’s great sailors. The voyage includes the earliest known recorded planing boats, the second longest standing international sailing event, and the ability to go upwind like a stiletto through butter.
The key features of the Canoe are its relatively small but highly efficient rig, its long, slim and lightweight hull, and of course the sliding seat.
How do you sum up the appeal of the International 10 Square Metre Sailing Canoe in four short paragraphs? "The dry fly of sailing"? (Uffa Fox) "one of the most interesting things that God let man make"? ( L Francis Herreshof) "Oh [deleted]!"? (nearly everyone who’s ever sailed one)?
For well in excess of one hundred years racing sailing canoes has fascinated, exasperated, intrigued and even infuriated some of the world’s great sailors. Along the way decked canoes have provided the earliest known recorded planing boats, the second longest standing international sailing event, an enormous amount of idiosyncratic fun and the ability to go upwind like a stiletto through butter. Sailors who become smitten with the class’ unique challenge often stay sailing them for decades.
The key features of the Canoe are its relatively small but highly efficient rig, its long, slim and lightweight hull, and of course that sliding seat. The "plank" is key to the experience. There’s something very unique about sailing your boat from your perch some feet from the windward side, and while all is going well its a surprisingly relaxing experience. Physically its generally less demanding than a trapeze or wings, but it does bring some extra handling challenges.
No boat can be all things to all men, and its pointless to pretend that this is a mass market boat. But then Château d’Yquem is not a mass market wine, and a pre war blown Bentley is not a mass market car. Some special things are, well, just special, and, unlike the wine or the car, this one isn’t unreasonably expensive...
Latest Web Updates
International Canoe World Championships 2007/8 (26 Feb 2021)
Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia A UK Report
The XVIIth International Canoe World Championships were held at McCrae Yacht Club on the western shore of Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia, from 31st December 2007 to 6th January 2008. The event was held as part of the Sail Melbourne Regatta, with Regatta Manager as the principal sponsor. McCrae YC proved to be excellent hosts for this triennial Championship. There were 22 entries in the standard IC fleet, 13 in the Development Canoe (DC) fleet [Editor's note: DC was the name given to boats built to the first draft of the proposed new open rules, which were to be adopted the next year], and 3 in the Asymmetric Canoe (AC) fleet. The weather was ... continue reading...
Random Pages
International Canoe International Webmaster Contact Form (20 Dec 2019)
Wren (20 Dec 2019)
Wren from Rushton
Date: 1890 circa
Designer: J H Rushton
Many thanks to Dan ... continue reading...
Hummingbird (04 Jan 2020)
Hummingbird
Date: 1947
Designer: Sven Thorell
A Swedish C Class canoe by Sven Thorell, ... continue reading...
Sailing Canoes: A Brief History (20 Dec 2019)
- World Championship Reports and Medallists (20 Dec 2019)
- Smith Yawl (20 Dec 2019)
- Whitman Pheonix Canoe (20 Dec 2019)
- Merwin, Hulbert, &Co. - Tyro (20 Dec 2019)
- Sailing Canoes: A Brief History (20 Dec 2019)