Flying Fifteen Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Flying Fifteen, designed by the legendary Uffa Fox in 1947, represents one of the most enduring and successful examples of a high-performance, open-keelboat. Fox’s vision was to create a vessel that captured the exhilarating speed and planing characteristics of a dinghy while providing the stability and self-righting safety of a keelboat. Despite its 20-foot overall length, the boat derives its name from its 15-foot waterline, a design choice that minimized wetted surface area and allowed the hull to break free from its bow wave. While Copland Boats was one of several licensed builders, including Ovington Boats and Windebank, they contributed to the class’s growth during the mid-20th century, particularly within the British sailing scene. Today, the boat remains a staple of international competitive racing, governed by strict one-design rules that have allowed it to evolve technically without making older hulls obsolete.