12 SQUARE METER SHARPIE

About the 12 SQUARE METER SHARPIE

Selected by Duetscher Segler Vergand in a competition held in 1931. Sailed in the Melborne Olympic Games of 1956. (The gold medal in this event was won by noted Australian sailor, Rolly Tasker). Still raced in a number of fleets around the world (in some cases as variants of the original). In the UK it is the BRITISH SHARPIE or NORFOLK SHARPIE. In Australia called the HEAVYWEIGHT SHARPIE, and beginning in 1960, a modernized version called the AUSTRALIAN LIGHTWEIGHT SHARPIE.

The 12 Square Meter Sharpie is a historic, ultra-lightweight daysailer designed by the Krogen Brothers and built in 1931. With a displacement of 510.0 lb and a max draft of 0.96 ft, this vessel represents a specific era of shallow-draft sailing, though the exact number of hulls built remains unknown.

Best for:

This boat is ideal for protected coastal waters, bays, and rivers where its 0.96 ft max draft allows access to shallow areas that deeper keelboats cannot reach. It suits casual daysailers and those seeking a simple, low-maintenance Gunter rig experience rather than serious offshore passage-making.

Bluewater capability:

With a capsize ratio of 2.35 and a very low displacement of 510.0 lb, this boat is not suitable for bluewater or offshore cruising. Its design prioritizes shallow draft and ease of launching over the stability and seaworthiness required for open-ocean passage-making.

Comparables:

Comparable vessels include other historic sharpies and shallow-draft daysailers from the 1930s, such as the O'Day 19 or early C&C daysailers, due to similar LOA of 19.58 ft and focus on ease of handling. Its unique hull form distinguishes it from standard keelboats, making direct comparisons limited to other flat-bottomed or shoal-draft designs.