Description
The Y Flyer is a classic 18-foot scow sailboat designed in 1938 by Alvin L. Youngquist, renowned for its lightweight (500 lb.), stable flat-bottom hull, fractional sloop rig, and 160 sq ft sail area, making it ideal for both recreational family sailing and competitive one-design racing with a two-person crew. Originally built in wood and later in fiberglass, it features exceptional upwind performance and forgiving handling, earning it a loyal following in the U.S. and Canada through the American Y-Flyer Sailing Association, which organizes regattas, supports active fleets in the Midwest and Southeast, and promotes it as an inclusive, fun, and tactical racing class for all ages.
Professional production began in 1941, with early wooden models built by various small yards, including Jack A. Helms Co. in the U.S. and George Hinterhoeller's Hinterhoeller Yachts in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, which produced about 40 wooden Y Flyers in 1956 as its inaugural production run before shifting focus. By the 1960s, fiberglass construction became dominant for durability, with notable builders including Turner Marine Products (known for high-performance racing models like hull #2669, a former national winner) and Jibetech Inc. (active in the 1980s–1990s, producing fiberglass hulls with modern reinforcements). In recent years, following a surge in Southeast U.S. interest around 2022, the AYFSA relocated the official class molds from New England to Charleston, South Carolina, where High and Dry Boatworks—led by custom fabricator Kurt Oberle—became the licensed builder in 2023, emphasizing resin-infusion techniques for lighter, stronger hulls and currently fulfilling orders for at least six new boats with more planned. Over 2,770 Y Flyers have been built to date, blending homebuilt wooden classics with professional fiberglass racers, supported by the AYFSA for plans, specs, and fleet resources at yflyerclass.org.
