Flying Ant Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The Flying Ant class traces its origins to the innovative mind of John Spencer in New Zealand during the 1950s. Originally conceived as a plywood design primarily intended for home builders, its accessible construction methods allowed for widespread adoption. Production of the Flying Ant commenced in 1967, and a modified, lighter version of Spencer's design quickly gained significant popularity in Australia, where it became a cornerstone of youth racing.

While Dinghy Sports, based in Mona Vale, New South Wales, was established in 1979, the company became a key builder of the Flying Ant from the boat's production start year. This aligns with Dinghy Sports' long-standing design philosophy of meticulously constructing and supporting established, popular dinghy classes, ensuring strict adherence to class rules for competitive racing. More recently, the Flying Ant design has seen contemporary updates, including a new one-design hull developed by top skiff sailor Adam Beashel, incorporating a carbon rig and bow pole, and transitioning to asymmetrical spinnakers, further enhancing its performance characteristics.

Sailing Performance and Handling

As a 10-foot, 5-inch (3.2-meter) double-handed skiff, the Flying Ant is engineered for speed and agile handling, weighing in at a mere 90 pounds. Equipped with a fractional sloop rig featuring a main, jib, and a substantial spinnaker (approximately 44 square feet), it demands active participation from its crew, which typically includes a trapeze for the forward sailor. Given its small size and design as a high-performance dinghy, traditional sailboat ratios used for larger cruising or racing yachts do not apply to the Flying Ant.

The boat's modern and speedy design, characterized by a refined hull shape, makes it an excellent intermediate dinghy for young sailors transitioning into more demanding performance skiffs. Sailors and coaches consistently praise the Flying Ant as a "brilliant" and ideal progression boat for juniors, offering a thrilling and educational sailing experience. It is designed to be fast and responsive, providing young athletes with the platform to develop advanced boat handling and racing skills in various conditions. The ideal age range for Flying Ant sailors is typically between 8 and 16 years old, with a recommended combined crew weight of 80kg to 110kg.

Accommodations and Layout

Consistent with its design as a lightweight, high-performance racing dinghy, the Flying Ant features an open cockpit layout with no interior accommodations or enclosed cabin space. The focus is entirely on maximizing performance and providing a functional platform for two crew members to manage its powerful sail plan and dynamic handling. The open design facilitates quick maneuvers and easy crew movement, essential for trapezing and spinnaker handling. Buoyancy tanks are integrated into the hull for safety and flotation.

Owner's Perspectives

Owners and participants within the Flying Ant class consistently highlight its effectiveness as a training ground for young, aspiring sailors. The boat is widely regarded as a significant stepping stone, allowing juniors to develop crucial high-performance sailing skills such as trapezing and asymmetric spinnaker work. Many Flying Ants were originally built by home enthusiasts from plywood plans, and even today, a vibrant community supports the class through active associations and local club fleets, particularly in Australia. The class offers a competitive and engaging environment, and the availability of both professionally built and well-maintained older boats ensures continued accessibility for new generations of sailors.