Shields
Description
The Shields (also known as the Shields 30 or Shields One-Design) is a classic American fiberglass one-design racing keelboat designed by Olin Stephens of Sparkman & Stephens in 1962. Commissioned by renowned yachtsman Cornelius Shields as a modern fiberglass successor to the wooden International One-Design (IOD) class, it was intended for club racing in the summer and sailing school instruction year-round. The first 20 hulls were built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding Co. in Massachusetts, with subsequent production by Chris Craft Corporation and Henry R. Hinckley & Co., totaling around 259 boats. Over 248 remain active today, supported by the Shields Class Sailing Association (founded 1963), which enforces strict one-design rules for fair competition. With its sleek lines, long overhangs, and generous sail area, the Shields is celebrated for its balance, speed, and forgiving handling—ideal for 4–5 crew in club fleets across the Northeast, Chesapeake Bay, Midwest (e.g., Lake Michigan), and California. Wt: 4672 lbs.
Construction Details
| Designer | Sparkman & Stephens |
|---|---|
| Builder | Cape Cod Shipbuilding |
| Length | 30.000 ft |
| LOA | 30.210 ft |
| LWL | 20.000 ft |
| Beam | 6.420 ft |
| Displacement | 4600 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.750 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 29.80 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 9.30 ft |
| p | 33.30 ft |
| e | 13.30 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29.80 ft | 9.30 ft | 33.30 ft | 13.30 ft | - | - |
Blueprints
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 33.3 ft - (10150 mm) |
| Foot | * 13.3 ft - (4054 mm) |
| Leech | * 35.14 ft - (10711 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 35.42 ft - (10796 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 228.62 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 28.33 ft - (8635 mm) |
| Foot | 10.167 ft - (3099 mm) |
| Leech | 26.83 ft - (8178 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 103.44 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 9.62 ft - (2932 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 1.52 ° |
| Area | * 136.29 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 29.66 ft - (9040 mm) |
| Foot | * 14.98 ft - (4566 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.93 ft - (8513 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 13.95 ft - (4252 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.05 ° |
| Area | * 206.86 ft² |
| Sail Type | DRIFTER |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 29.66 ft - (9040 mm) |
| Foot | * 15.57 ft - (4746 mm) |
| Leech | * 26.68 ft - (8132 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perp | * 13.95 ft - (4252 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 9.04 ° |
| Area | * 206.87 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 29.66 ft - (9040 mm) |
| Foot | * 15.34 ft - (4676 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.29 ft - (8318 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 341 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | * 29.66 ft - (9040 mm) |
| MidGirth | * 16.74 ft - (5102 mm) |
| Foot | * 16.74 ft - (5102 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 422 ft² |
| Sail Type | STORMJIB |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 17.17 ft - (5233 mm) |
| Foot | * 6.93 ft - (2112 mm) |
| Leech | * 14.2 ft - (4328 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 60 % |
| Length Perp | * 5.58 ft - (1701 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 19.06 ° |
| Area | * 47.89 ft² |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.