Jan Sonnenberg in action

Jan Sonnenberg is the webmaster of the site twaalfvoetsjollenclub










Elena-Romana Gazenser from Germany has sent me this URL.
dinghies in Germany

Another interesting article in a new blog from the Dutch journalist Robert Wielaart
dinghies in the Netherlands

Plastic jollen in Nederland (2)

Albert Brouwer is de importeur van de plastic Italiaanse Nauticalodi jollen. Hij ziet graag dat de Twaalfvoetsjollenclub en het Watersportverbond plastic jollen gaan toelaten en heeft een gesprek voorgesteld met Henk van der Zande (voorzitter) en mij (bestuurder international 12foot dinghy class organisation). Ik heb aangegeven dat een gesprek geen zin heeft, omdat ik per 1 februari 2013 stop met mijn internationale bestuurs activiteiten. Fred Udo heb ik gepolst mij op te volgen. Als het bestuur van de twaalfvoetsjollenclub hem vraagt en de ledenvergadering akkoord gaat, wil Fred dit verzoek in overweging nemen. Albert heb ik geadviseerd lid te worden van de Twaalfvoetsjollenclub. Dat heeft hij inmiddels gedaan. Op de komende ledenvergadering wil hij een lans gaan breken voor de toelating van plastic jollen.

Albert Brouwer Yacht Broker
Roosenburgstraat 29
5624JS EINDHOVEN
Website: www.polyesterjollen.nl
Email: Info@Polyesterjollen.nl

Aan: Pieter Bleeker, Henk van der Zande
Betreft: Twaalfvoetsjollenbulletin Nr.4 van Oktober 2012 en het actuele 12footnews
Datum: 6 december 2012

Via mijn Italiaanse Twaalfvoetsjol vrienden werd ik attent gemaakt op de huidige discussie over specificaties (en dus bootsnelheid). Toen ik mij vervolgens in deze materie verdiepte verbaasde ik mij over de heersende Nederlandse opvatting. Graag breng ik hierbij volgende punten onder uw aandacht:

• De klassieke jol een museum klasse?
• Suggestieve mening / stemmingmakerij.
• Een meer objectieve opvatting.
• Mijn voorstel.

Museum Klasse?
Met de klassieke houten twaalfvoetsjol kies je, gezien de huidige opvatting, bewust voor een museum klasse. Daar is natuurlijk niets mis mee. Quotes uit het Twaalfvoetsjollenbulletin Bulletin 4 Oktober 2012 hierover zijn o.a. :

• “En nu komt het grote en tot heden nog ruim onvoldoende gekoesterde geheim van ons aller Twaalfvoetsjol: er is HELEMAAL NIKS aan veranderd, niet aan rompvorm, zeiltekening, bouwwijze of materiaal.”
• “Gelukkig is de Nederlandse twaalfvoetsjollenklasse tot op heden niet gezwicht voor de verleiding om ook een beetje of heel veel mee te gaan op het pad der veranderingen.”
• “De springlevende en alleroudste geheel originele eenheidsklasse ter wereld, die op 18 april 2014 honderd jaar oud zal zijn.”
• “The danger for the Netherlands is: modern plastic and modern wood are faster and become increasingly popular. Classic wood would be classified as a museum class.”

Hiermee vergeleken heeft Italië, een totaal andere weg ingeslagen, die van modernisering en verjonging. Deze modernisering maakt de moderne Italiaanse polyester jol met zijn dubbele bodem en zijn efficiëntere tuigage de betere zeilboot (sneller en beter zelfredzaam). Op het grotere onbeschutte zeilwater voor de Italiaanse kust zijn deze eigenschappen vooral van belang. Dit is een logische ontwikkeling en vergelijkbaar met andere eenheidsklassen. Hiermee werd de twaalfvoetsjol in Italië ook aansprekend voor de jeugd.

Suggestieve mening / stemming makerij.
De indruk ontstaat dat het Nederlandse twaalfvoetsjol kamp zich door dit Italiaanse succes meer en meer bedreigt voelt. Het zich afzetten tegen Italië lijkt populair te worden (wij tegen hun). Quotes uit voorgenoemd bulletin die mij deze indruk geven zijn o.a.:

• “Dan moeten die Italianen natuurlijk wel willen begrijpen wat een SW factor is”.
• “Vooral de Italianen hebben hele andere intenties”.
• “Achter dit plan gaat vermoedelijk ook de Italiaanse maffia schuil, want met zo'n belastingheffing zullen de Hollanders hun houten jol waarschijnlijk voor langere tijd opbergen en overstappen op de plastic jol 'made in Italy'”.
• “We weten, dat er in Italië plastic jollen met aluminium “rondhout” mee doen en dat daar vederlichte houten jollen propvol reguleerlijntjes hun zeil-met-losse-broek hoger aan de (holle) mast varen, net zoals die plastic boten. We weten van hun dubbele bodems, verkorte vlonders, andere roervormen en elektrische pompen.”

Een meer objectieve opvatting.
Gelukkig zijn er ook mensen uit het Nederlandse twaalfvoetskamp met een meer objectieve kijk. Hierbij wil ik de inzending van Fred Udo in dit bulletin aanhalen en ik quote:

• “De argumenten van de Italianen zijn sterk: Door moderne ontwikkelingen te stimuleren spreekt de boot aan bij een jong publiek. Zowel in plastic als in hout wordt veel nieuwbouw gepleegd. Onlangs is er een serie van 10 prachtige houten boten gebouwd op de bekende werf van Ernesto Riva. De romp is vrijwel gelijk aan de Hollandse boten, maar de uitrusting en het tuig komt uit een andere wereld dan de onze.”
• “Er is een Italiaanse gewoonte, die door alle Nederlanders wordt overgenomen zodra zij de grens over zijn: De losse broek in het zeil. Vergelijk dit met de strakke Nederlandse regels, waarbij zelfs een schootblok met klem na verhitte discussies werd afgewezen en jaren lang mocht ons vaantje volgens de meetregels niet.”
• “Hieruit zou men kunnen afleiden dat het de tegenstelling hout-plastic is die de discussies verziekt. Dat is niet zo, want in Luzern voeren alleen houten boten.”
• “Politiek is de kunst van het haalbare en het lijkt mij nodig om de haalbaarheid en de zin van de verschillende initiatieven serieus te toetsen, zodat niet het kind met het badwater weggegooid wordt.”

Mijn voorstel:
Juist deze laatste zin spreekt mij bijzonder aan. Politiek is de kunst van het haalbare.

Het verbaast mij niet dat het voor de Italianen onhaalbaar is om hun moderne jol voor een wedstrijd terug te brengen naar een specificatie van 100 jaar geleden. Het verbaast mij ook niet dat het voor de Nederlanders onhaalbaar was om hun “museum jol” van een moderne tuigage te voorzien. Het verbaast mij alleen dat lang gedacht werd dat tussen deze twee partijen een compromis haalbaar was en dat de nationale clubs hier achter zouden kunnen staan.

Mijn idee als nieuwkomer zou zijn:
• Stop met het veroordelen van de Italianen en de stemming makerij. (...)
• Accepteer de realiteit dat er twee klassen zijn: Klassieke en Moderne Twaalfvoetsjollen. (...!)
• Plan per klasse een wedstrijd (liefst geen gelijke start ….langzamer zijn frustreert)
• Kijk naar de toekomst en de jeugd en experimenteer zelf met een paar moderne jollen. Dan kun je oefenen hoe je de Italianen met hun moderne jol kunt verslaan (...).


Graag kom ik met u beiden hierover in gesprek.
Met vriendelijke groet,


Albert Brouwer

Een plaatje zegt meer dan 1000 woorden. Toegevoegd door de redactie een cartoon gepubliceerd in het Italiaanse jollenbulletin

Zie versie 1 van deze reeks plastic dinghies

Dinghy vision of Giorgio Pizzarello

Giorgio Pizzarello from Italy is my friend. We share the same passion for racing and the 12footdinghy. Giorgio likes the situation that all dinghies have the same speed. I like the situation that all dinghies have the same slowness and will stay real classic. See the blog article all dinghies equal slow. Read Giorgio's interesting vision.

Dear Dinghy Friends,

I have received, like many of you, one of the items of the agenda of the next Annual Meeting of the Dutch 12’ Dinghy Class, together with some thoughts of Fred Udo , Reinhard Schroeder and Pieter Bleeker. The item concerns the international future of the 12’ Dinghy. As it often happens, I agree with some concepts, I notice that certain things that have been written are incorrect and I don't agree at all with others. As you know, I have been the Chairman of the Italian 12’ Dinghy Class for 3 years and during that period I have organized with enthusiasm in Bracciano the first World Cup of the modern era (see the picture). In Bracciano I was second after Pieter Bleeker in the modern division, while with a classic dinghy I have won the Venice World Cup and have been third in the Portorose World Cup. Furthermore, I have attended to the meetings that have given birth to the Jolanda and to the Martini protocols, as well as to the recent meeting last October in Tuzla. On top of this, I am the only Italian sailor who owns a Dutch 12’ Dinghy, a Van der Meer, as well as other two Italian 12’ Dinghies (a VTR/ wood and a total wood Colombo of 2012). In the light of the above, I have therefore deemed it right and appropriate to give my contribution to the discussion, with the hope to be also able to clarify some concepts.

Some preliminar clarifications. In Italy we have achieved the very important goal to have similar speed in the water between VTR 12’ dinghies and wooden 12’dinghies (not all of them, of course). At the point that Paolo Viacava has won the Italian Championship in 2011 with a totally wooden 12’ Dinghy of recent construction. In the same event other two wooden Dinghies, of more than 40 years, arrived within the first 10 in a fleet of more than 70 boats . This means that the Italian wooden 12’ Dinghy has reached a very good compromise as far as speed is concerned. This didn't happen in one day, but is the result of small and progressive adjustments along the years ( the Dutch friends call it " modernization ") . We are proud of this, because, as I have said many times, the Italian 12’ Dinghy Class is the only one that has been able to have on the water Vtr and wooden boats that have similar performance as far as speed and structural solidity is concerned.
Recently, in Portorose, on the occasion of the Cockshott Trophy races ( the first day, 80/90 boats competing, wooden and vtr together, same start) the winner over all has been a wooden Dinghy and another one (myself )was forth. Furthermore, the three single races of that day have been won respectively by a wooden boat, a VTR/wooden boat, and by an only VTR boat.

This year at the Italian Championship the wooden boats didn't repeat the 2011 "exploit", but if you give a proper glance to the results ( 74 competitors), you will notice that the top Italian helmsmen of the wooden Dinghies weren’t there, while among the modern Dinghies there were almost all the best helmsmen including, just to make an example, Dodo Gorla, yes the one who won Olympic Medals and a Star World Championship !!!

In Italy we have 3 kinds of 12’Dinghies: VTR, VTR/Wood, only Wood (some of the latter are of recent construction, some are older). All together they represent a unique and united Sailing Class that every year counts on about 120 races . Only five of them are reserved today only to Wooden Dinghies ! In all the others all the different kinds of 12’Dinghies race together without any problem, with an overall result and in addition to it a separate classification for the wooden Dinghies. In Italy nobody talks, neither now, nor ever, of “an internal schism”. But maybe telling about it in Northern Europe is “instrumental”; as we say in Italy, it brings water to the mill of a certain “Propaganda” !?

I agree with Fred, Reinhard and Pieter on the fact that differences do exist between Dutch and Italian Classic 12’Dinghies, but I also think that today the road for a standardization is long and difficult, especially in the light of the huge distance existing between the Italian and the Dutch philosophy as far as the 12’ Dinghy is concerned.

On the contrary I do not believe that the French, the Swiss, the German , the Turkish , the Japanese and the Slovenians, are victims of anybody: they have the ability and the freedom to evaluate the things and the situation and to make their own choices.

Now some considerations and thoughts about the 4 alternatives that will be examined by the Dutch Annual Meeting of January 27, 2013.

- The first one (Close the borders)
I think it would be a pity and wrong as well ! In the last ten years we have had together so many pleasant and friendly meetings among dinghy sailors of many countries ! They have been successful sport wise and given rise to many exchanges and true friendships.

-The second one ( All dinghies start together in international events) ( i.e only one start, an over all result and also separate classifications for different kind of 12’ Dinghies). I think that this solution is appreciated and supported in Italy especially as far as the Cockshott Trophy is concerned, an event for which the Italian 12’ Dinghy Class, as well as the friends of the German Flotte Nord, care because it welcomes all types of 12’ Dinghies. As far as the World Cup is concerned, in the three modern editions that we have had, we always had separated starts, because the World Cup has always been valid as one of the races of the 12’ Dinghy Classic Trophy-Swiss and Global Cup Series, that is the Italian 5/6 races series reserved only to wooden dinghies. In my opinion this precedent can be maintained, but one could find an agreement on adding prizes on the basis of additional classifications.

In a recent meeting in Turkey (Tuzla) during the Turkish Cockshott event, it seemed that an understanding had been reached about international series, by identifying the Cockshott Trophy as the common international series for which each Nation would have organized a Race (common start, an overall classification and three classifications for modern dinghies, Dutch wooden dinghies and Italian wooden dinghies ), thus obtaining a higher concentration of boats, in a sustainable number of international events. The outcome of the Tuzla meetings has been published by Steve Crook on the 12’ Dinghy international web site. If on top of this somebody wants to organize in Northern Europe a Friendship Series between classic 12’ dinghies Dutch style: just do it !
It is really difficult for me to understand where the danger for Dutch wooden boats is !? In Italy , VTR boats do not seem to send wooden ones in " Museums ". For many different reasons somebody likes 12’ wooden Dinghies, somebody likes 12’ VTR Dinghies. Where is the problem ?
Besides, I like to repeat once more that in Italy the great majority of 12’ Dinghy owners, including those of wooden Dinghies, agree with this position, which is the official one of the Italian 12’DinghyClass.

- The third proposal (Separated Starts) I don't think this format would encourage sailors to make long journeys pulling their boat with the car, just to race (at least at present) against competitors that they can meet comfortably at home. This is the reason why last April, after Easter, we cancelled the trip to L'Ailette .

-The forth proposal ( The Compromise) And now I come to the forth proposal : the compromise ! Regarding this a preliminary clarification is necessary.

The International 12 foot Class Association, as far as I know, is not an association of Classes . It is a Committee composed by 3 volunteers whose role is to optimize the calendar of international races approved by National Classes. Furthermore Steve Crook , who is the President of the Committee, manages the international web site, financed by the Italian and Dutch Associations, a web site that is the "Home" of all 12’ Dinghy Sailors. In this respect I would like to take this opportunity to underline how much all of us is grateful to Steve for the job he carries on with passion, fairness and balance.

Under the circumstances the International 12 foot Dinghy Class cannot act as " neutral umbrella " over anything . Furthermore the Italian 12’ Dinghy Class has already expressed itself on this subject and does not take into consideration international agreements relating to 12’ Dinghy owners of only one kind of 12’Dinghy. This official position is very well known both at National and International level.
This forth proposal, in my opinion, is therefore not suitable for Italy.

Nevertheless I hope that the World Cup in Naples will take place with the same Format of the three previous editions and since it will be disputed in Italy, I believe that the Italian Class will make some Italian boats of different types available for foreign friends who don't want to travel so far away with their own boats. In Tuzla all those attending to the meeting, at personal title (R. Schroeder, W. De Boer, F de Bot) or in the name of their national associations/fleets ( Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany) agreed.

Should then somebody decide not to come, I would be very sorry for him because he would miss an extraordinary event, in a beautiful place, where there is a very intriguing race field where the wind seldom lacks ! Not only that: he would loose the warm welcome of Naples and of it's old, prestigious Yacht Clubs and the opportunity to attend all together a big Festa ! For what I know of you, I trust it won't happen .
My best regards to all of you and wishes of good sailing, fair winds and happy time .

All dinghies equal slow

All dinghies equal slow: The opinion of Duuk Dudok van Heel, member of the technical committee in the Netherlands. See the picture. In the past four times world champion in the Flying junior class and one time Dutch Champion in the 12footdinghy class. Some Italians have sent us unpleasant emails: the Dutch are troublemakers, bad losers, Italian dinghies are superior, it is just the helmsman who make the difference, we live in 2012 etc. But also, explain what do you want. That is a good one. What should the Italians change if they don't want to have the situation that the dinghy class will be divided in a modern and a classic part. Here some personal suggestions.

At first and all wooden dinghy lovers should say it loudly: "we are lovers of classic dinghies in the spirit George Cockshott has designed the 12footdinghy"
Second, all dinghies should have the same slowness. That is something different as a rat race for more speed. Especially in slow wind circumstances.

What are the consequences if the Italians accept these principles.
1 To make holes in holy dinghy wood to save weight is forbidden
2 Take the Dutch gaff and sail
3 The same trimming lines as the Dutch (and that is not much)
4 Keep everything original in the 1914 spirit, cheap and as simple as possible.

I would not advise the Italians to take the heavy original rudder with the big iron stripes. It is a brake. Personally I think the Dutch should take the Italian rudder: max 4 kg without the helm. It is also a cheaper solution.
The loose footed sail of the Italians...why not. Some Dutch have no objections to change this rule, but of course the real Dutch purist hate this idea.
The possibility to change the foot of the mast before the race a bit with a small wooden block. Why not. A cheap solution.
The Italian rule concerning the crew is also not a bad idea in important races. You sail the whole series alone or you sail the whole series with two persons. I like that idea.

The next step for the wooden dinghy owners in Italy and Holland...Talk with each other and not about each other. And most important, look to the past. Why are there no more dinghies in the UK? Because Morgan Giles had the idea in the twenties to modernize the dinghy. The original 12footdinghy has survived, the "modern" Morgan Giles dinghy not. So..who takes the first step for a good talk about standardization of the wooden dinghy to make them all equal slow? The alternative is a separation.

What will the Dutch decide

Saturday 26 January 2013 is the annual meeting of the Twaalfvoetsjollenclub in the Netherlands. What will the Dutch decide. Henk van der Zande is the chairman of the Dutch Twaalfvoetsjollenclub and has a dilemma concerning the international sailing in 12 foot dinghies. There are four options. This is the analysis for the meeting. Will it be option 1, 2, 3 or 4.  Read it february in the blog 12footnews.

chairman of the Twaalfvoetsjollenclub Henk van der Zande 


International sailing in 12 foot dinghies.
written by Fred Udo, Reinhard Schroeder and Pieter Bleeker

Already in the 20s and 30s some Dutch dinghy sailors crossed the country borders to participate in sailing competitions in other countries. At that time, there was little discussion of standardization, because the class was international. That is quite different now. Especially the last year there has been much debate and argument on this subject. The latest Dutch bulletin was full of it.
Reinhard Schröder, Fred Udo and Pieter Bleeker experienced everything at close quarters. We would like to share our thoughts about it with you, so that the subject can be discussed at the annual meeting. At the end of this letter we will outline a number of scenarios for further discussion.
But let's start with the past. The dinghy has been an officially recognized international class until 1964 and thereafter every country had its own way. The Netherlands remained faithful to the classical principles, while the Italians modernised the boat. In the 80's there was much exchange between Italy and the Netherlands. Already at that time differences in the equipment emerged. They are visible, if you have a good look at the pictures from that era. Aluminium rudders behind wooden dinghies, aluminium masts, plastic dinghies. Plastic penetrates in most traditional wooden classes and usually that's the beginning of the end for wooden boats. Except .... in Italy. In 2007, six Dutch dinghies went to Naples to sail against exclusively Italian wooden dinghies. This was a great success and from there wood had a good start. In Italy 17 new dinghies were built in 2011: 15 wood and 2 plastic. From every 3 dinghies are now 2 polyester and 1 wood. But the wood of Italy is not the same wood as in the Netherlands. Our rudders are heavy, the masts are heavy etc. Still the hulls are reasonably the same.Giorgio Pizzarello ordered in 2008 by van der Meer a dinghy, that obtained both a Dutch and an Italian certificate. The boat was not fast enough in Italy. No problem, if you're here and there drilling holes in the brackets, throw in a hollow mast, lightweight floorboards etc., you can save about 20 kg. One then adds an Italian rig with a multitude of trim lines. With gentle wind you are a lot faster, but ... you're still not as fast as a polyester boat in light weather. In strong wind Italian wooden dinghies can still be competitive. In 2011, a wooden dinghy with excellent sailor Paolo Viacava won even the Italian championship. In 2012 there was little wind and the first wooden boat was number 18. Is the game still fun if we play it this way? No, not really, and certainly not for the Dutch and other foreigners with their classical dinghies. This is proven in Portoroz and Lucerne, where there was no competition at all. Also in Italy one reluctantly acknowledges now that there are differences in speed and that there is actually three kinds of dinghies: modern plastic, modern wood and classic wood. Grosso modo the Dutch boats are classic wood and in Italy one finds modern plastic and modern wood. Each of these three parties do not budge an inch if one tries to negotiate about standardisation. The consequence is that, even in Italy, one talks about an internal schism. France, Switzerland and Germany are the victims of this situation, because what side should they join? And which way should the Netherlands go? If we allow modern wood and plastic, we draw the short straw. Classic wood has lost in each class. See the 505, the Olympia dinghy, the Vaurien. Do we want anything like this in our 12 foot dinghy class organization? None of our 350 members and 250 certificate holders would like to see our cultural heritage vanish. But what should we do? Close the borders? Deny that there are dinghies abroad? Should we race together with modern plastic during the worldcup 2013 in Naples?. Something the modern wooden dinghy sailors in Italy are fiercely opposed to. Anyway three separate classes with three starts and three classifications is not really fun. Racing with a few Dutch, Swiss, French and Germans is not really what one expects of a competition in Naples. In this case you might as well stay home and go to the Sneekweek.
In short, there are numerous dilemmas and yet something has to be done. Every dinghy sailor is now looking at the members of the Dutch Twaalfvoetsjollenclub. What will we decide: Staying together as an international dinghy friends club or prefer serious competition sailing in one design boats. The latter is at this moment unfeasible in international competitions and therefore we see four alternatives:

1 Close the borders
We are solely a national class. We no longer go abroad ... The Dutch have a saying for this: "In this way we throw with the bathwater the baby away "

2 All dinghies start together in international events
A joint start and then three classifications: modern plastic, modern wood and classic wood. The Italian class organization is a strong supporter of this, but modern wooden dinghies in Italy are fiercely opposed. The danger for the Netherlands is: modern plastic and modern wood are faster and become increasingly popular. Classic wood would be classified as a museum class. See numerous examples in other classes.

3 Separated starts
Modern plastic, modern wood and classic wood start not together is the rule, because the speed is not the same. It actually means a separation with Italy, because in this case we have hardly anything in common. The role of the International Organization 12 foot Class will become smaller. Perhaps we should establish an international classic dinghy class organization, together with the Germans, the French and other lovers of classic dinghies. The recently established International Friendship Series is a good way to promote classic wood.

4 A compromise
A separate section classic wood is set up under the umbrella of the International Organisation 12foot Class which has a neutral president. The start arrangements will be defined for every race separately. Less competition and more fun. It might also help if all “international” trophies: Cockshott (plastic), Swiss and Global (modern wood) and Friendship Series (wood classic) all be abolished along with the current World Cup. Friendships are strengthened by sharing and the exchange of boats or rigs in competitions open to such arrangements. An example is the Kaag Regatta, which already during numerous year is called “the International Friendship Regatta”

Dinghy vision of Dolph Blussé

The Dutch national 12ft-dinghy class, the oldest completely original and active One-Design class in the Netherlands, one of the oldest in the world.

The nerve of these Dutch 12ft-dinghy sailors to celebrate their own centennial party at their own time in 1914!! Could one foster any doubts about the 12Footers birthday? Early in 1913 the newborn Boat Racing Association held a design competition for a 12ft one-design centerboard dinghy that would sail well, but could also serve as a rowing dinghy. George Cockshott’s design won first prize in April 1913 and was christened the BRA “A” Class One-Design Dinghy, also known as the BRA 12Footer. So the design is one hundred years old in 2013 and the first “A” Class dinghy hit the water in the summer of that year.

Right, but all that happened in Great Britain, where nobody really liked One-Designs and the love for Restricted Classes always prevailed in lengthy discussions. The BRA 12Footer started off alright, but the Great War intervened and it never became a real hit in those islands West of Europe’s mainland. Racing these charming dinghies was popular for some years, in certain clubs for many years, but eventually the sail plan and the hull underwent significant changes or a new design was selected for club races, inevitably leading to the end of the class….. If not a Dutchman staying in England had by chance encountered the ”A” Class dinghy in the fall of 1913 and fell in love at first sight.
That winter he told his fellow members of the Royal Netherlands Sailing- and Rowing Club in Amsterdam about what he thought to be the ideal small racing dinghy for the sailing youth. His club realized the importance of this information and proposed in the next meeting of the United Sailing Associations of the Netherlands and Belgium a national class of ”Standaardjollen” to the rules of the BRA “A” Class One-Design dinghy class. On the 18th of April 1914 this class, also known as the “Twaalfvoetsjollenklasse” was installed. It grew to immense popularity in the Netherlands and stayed firmly alive until the present time.

So what? Everywhere new classes of racing sailboats were created in those years. Most of them were restricted classes but there were also one-designs and some of these classes date from before 1913/1914. The oldest one alive is the Irish Water Wag Class of 1887 that underwent a transformation from double-ender to sloop in 1900, but remained unchanged since then. The American Star-Class (1909) and the British X-Class One-Design (1911) are also older than the BRA 12Footer and have survived until now….. However, these boats underwent important changes to the original concept: a radically new sail plan and sometimes a different construction. Thus, the hull lines may still look the same but a completely different boat emerged.

So here is the great and till recently sorely neglected secret of our dearly beloved Twaalfvoetsjol: absolutely nothing ever underwent any real changes, not to the hull, the lug sail, the construction, the materials used. This is still the same dinghy that was elected by the Dutch to be a national one-design class in 1914 and that was lifted to the status of “International 12ft-Dinghy Class” by the IYRU in 1920 (recalled in 1964). This boat functioned at the Olympic Games in 1920(Belgium) and 1928 (Netherlands) as the One-Design Centerboard Class.
In some minor ways the Twaalfvoetsjol moved with the times: the “Union Silk” sailcloth made way for Dacron fibre; for reasons of safety floating aids are now compulsory and self-bailers are permitted; an hinged extension to the tiller and a boom vang are also allowed. And several additions to the Rules have been added to secure the unity in the class. Two small rules have disappeared: …. the sculling notch in the transom is gone and the name of the boat is not necessarily shown in gold leaf and shade.

We are well aware that in Italy fiberglass 12ft-dinghies with aluminum spars sail along with wooden feather-light hulls stowed full of trimming lines, carrying the lugsail (loose on the boom) higher than normal on a hollow wooden or aluminum mast. We are amazed by the double bottoms, absent floors, non-standard rudder blades and electric bilge pumps. We realize that such dinghies have left the old “International 12ft-dinghy Class”-rules because of these differences in hull, rig, weight and other concessions to the original…… it is a great pity!! And it is no surprise to us (and not really interesting) that these dinghies are slightly faster.

Luckily the Dutch Twaalfvoetsjollenclub, the national class organization, resists any temptations to change and maintains the unique character of the original BRA prize-winner:
The oldest national One-Design class in Holland, fully alive, that will reach the age of one hundred years on April 18, 2014.

Postscript: Isn’t it nice that these Dutch Puritans are no longer the only ones that realize how well this classical and well reglemented dinghy-class is suited not just for recreational sailing but also for high-level competitive racing! We see the fleet of classical dinghies grow already for years in Holland and now also in Northern Germany and on the Swiss Lakes… And these last years the number of registered classical dinghies is growing fast in France and the number of class events rises!

We will keep fashionable nonsense and expensive novelties out of the boats and cherish the clarity and stability of the original class rules. The cost of racing will thus be fairly stable. Provided that a new sail is bought every now and then, it will be feasible to race an old and well maintained classical dinghy successfully in an expanding and exciting circuit of international events. We hope to see many friends of the classical Twaalfvoetsjol at the Dutch centennial events in 1914.

Capsizing and a bucket

Erik van der Meer has survived a dinghy regatta in 2011 with 35 knots. He is a good dinghy sailor, number 5 at the dutch championship 2012. September 2012 he made a little mistake in slow wind circumstances and capsized. See the picture. It can happen everybody. The first thing you had to do is to close your selfbailers. Second find as soon as possible a bucket. I have a 4 ltr optimist bucket and can use it immediately when I have bad luck. See the second picture. Most of the times it is not possible to empty your boat by yourself. You need help from someone who want to bring you to the harbour. Use a rope around the mast and fixed it to the rescue boat. What happened with Erik in this situation? He was able to empty his boat quick and in a long downwind course he could loose all the water in his boat to use his selfbailers. The ten dinghy sailors before him made a mistake, they forgot to round the right mark. After a protest Erik became number one. A miracle.

You need very quick a bucket when you capsize

100 year dinghies in the Netherlands

From 27 till 29 June 2014 The Twaalfvoetsjollenclub will organize a big event at the Loosdrechtse Plassen in The Netherlands. The event commemorates the 100th anniversary of the “A” Class 12 Feet One-Design Dinghy which was accepted as a national class in the Netherlands and Belgium in April 1914. Over 100 classic wooden dinghies are expected to come to Loosdrecht. Projectleader is Leen van Willigen. Also a centennial book will be published in which the 12 foot dinghy history will be extensively described. The authors are Dolph Blussé, Remmelt Kraneveld, Lia Dudok van Heel, Wietske van Soest, Steve Crook and many other contributors.

Beulakerwiede 2004. 90 year dinghies in the Netherlands. 100 dinghies at the starting line.

Dinghy NED876

The newest classic wooden dinghy in the Netherlands with number NED876, built by boatyard de Jong. An article in the newspaper "Spiegel der Zeilvaart"

On the website jachtwerf de Jong pictures of the building process.
12 foot dinghy pictures

Capsizing and the centreboard

My friend Elena-Romana Gazenser from Germany has given a good advise. If you capsize with your dinghy in deep water, you can loose your centreboard. In that case you really have a problem. With the thin line it will not happen. Another possibility is a thin hawk of 1 mm, in Italy a lot of people have this system. In the Netherlands the lakes are not deep, about 1 till 3 meters. In that case you don't need a system to protect your centreboard. The best solution: don't capsize.


Hallo Pieter,

im Anhang 2 Fotos von meiner Schwertsichrung nach Art des Finn-Dinghy. WIr habe sie selbst angebaut. Jeroen de Groot war beeindruckt und fand die Idee gut. Vielleicht auch eine Bastelidee für Deinen Dinghy-Blog oder für die Technik-Seite der Dinghy-Vereinigung?