Everybody loves the Sunfish!

April 15, 2020 by Nicki Bennett

Have you ever sailed a Sunfish?

Arguably the most popular sailing dinghy ever made, with more than 250 thousand produced since 1952. Many kids have learned sailing and racing on Sunfish’s worldwide, but the enjoyment of these special boats does not stop there. The stories of adventures are as varied as the owners themselves, the following, bordering cult-like, with the general consensus, a Sunfish is always a good time.

Come summer, many Sunfish can be found racing and cruising on bodies of water, world-wide. "You don't have to win or be highly competitive to have a great time attending a regatta." Mark Kastel, long time Sunfish sailor. "There is no substitute for time in the water."

Mike King, who took up sailing at 77 and slowly started trading motorcycles for sailboats, shares his experience with the Sunfish, "Overall it is easy to see why the lowly Sunfish is the most popular and often raced dinghy ever made. It does so many things well for novice and seasoned racers alike. The designers of this little boat got it pretty much right from the get-go. My hats off to them.

This year I converted my rudder to the newer flip-up design and gave my sun-scorched deck a couple of coats of bright yellow marine epoxy. This old boat deserved some TLC. It is hard to believe this little boat is almost 70 years old and for the most part unchanged despite often changed ownership."

Due to the broad appeal of the Sunfish, in 1995 it was commended by The American Sailboat Hall of Fame for being "the most popular fiberglass boat ever designed.

In past years we have had many Sunfish participate in Summer Sailstice and we hope that will continue for years to come. If you own a Sunfish we want to see your dot on the map! Check out these great events from years past.