Corsair History

In the early 1960's DeHaviland Marine Yacht Division of the Havilland Aviation,  manufacturers  of the GIPSY & Vagabond class boats, decided that  there was a market for a larger craft  of family size.

The DeHaviland's Marine Architects headed by  Allan Payne, designer of the America's Cup Yachts - Gretel 1 & Gretel 11 - were asked to design a fast family sailor /racing yacht - absolutely free of maintenance & so safe it would  even sail full of water.

The CORSAIR class boat - sleek, smooth & safe, all fibreglass  with alloy spars,  terylene sails, & stainless  rigging - was finally manufactured and ready  for sale late  1967 - Price  $930.  

In 1998, a new CORSAIR will cost $9,950 excluding spinnaker and trailer. The boats are made to  order for personal colour specifications. CORSAIRS are now manufactured in Melbourne by Ray Laird of Blue Waters Marine Yachts.

Ray is a CORSAIR sailor and has held the Rights of Manufacture and  Moulds  since 1976. Each CORSAIR has a numbered plate with corresponding sail numbers

 - the first boat of issue  numbered 100

and  around 1200 sold throughout Australia.

National Championship

 Information

The National Championships are held every year after Christmas around the 28/29th December depends on state organisation.

Divisions

A Division – Corsairs with spinnaker 

B Division – Corsairs without spinnaker

C Division – Australian Defence Force

Cadet Corsairs without spinnaker

The program provide a;

Invitation Race

Seven Championships

Course

Olympic type courses, with 45 degree angles at base and Windward marks, intersecting to form 90 degrees angle at Wing mark

Social Activities

Welcome/Family/ Pancake Night

Youth National Championship

The program provide;

Five Championships

Divisions

A Division – Corsairs with spinnaker

B Division – Corsairs without spinnaker

Eligibility only if you are under 21

The Corsair

This 16 foot (4.8 m) sailing dinghy offers excellent racing with a crew of three and in addition is a comfortable cruising boat suitable for day sailing or equally good to transport. a family to a camping venue. The boats have gained a band of devoted followers and  have been chosen as the ideal training dinghy for the  Naval Reserve Cadet Units throughout Australia.

Today CORSAIRS  are in great demand for sail training and many  yacht/sailing clubs have a  fleet for such purposes.

The Naval Reserve Cadet Units and Sea Scouts organisations  have a training base for water activities and use CORSAIRS for sail training. School sailing has become one of the most popular sports so School Sailing Clubs are in great demand. Students train with their school boats or local sailing clubs then compete in Association Regattas. Naval Reserve Cadet Units have a regular sail-training program and compete in all Association Championships while organising many of their own Regattas, sail camps, and trips away.