International Moth Class FAQs

2009 CST Composites International Moth Class World Championships
August 6-15, 2009, Cascade Locks, Oregon

What's a Moth?

The Moth is the fastest single-handed racing sailboat in the world, capable of gliding above the water on hydrofoils and reaching speeds close to 30 mph. Moth class rules specify only length (11 ft), width (7.4 ft), and sail area (86 ft²), leaving designers free to experiment with radical innovations in hull shape, weight, and rigging. As a result, today’s Moths bear little resemblance to their forebears from the 20s and 30s (see photo, above) and provide the most exciting competitive action in the world of modern sailboat racing.

Who sails it?

The Moth class attracts the elite of international small boat sailors, including Olympic and world-class competitors from other high performance dinghy classes. Maneuvering the 60lb hydofoiling craft requires an extraordinary amount of skill and athleticism, and crashes are frequent and spectacular! Class celebrities include current World Champion John Harris from Australia, 2006 World Champion Simon Payne from the UK, and two-time World Champion Rohan Veal from Australia, who electrified the sailing world in 2005 when he became the first person to win a Moth World Championship on hydrofoils, taking first place in eight straight races.

Moth World Champions since 2003

Where do they sail?

The Moth is a truly international class, with active fleets in Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada and the US. International competition has been dominated in recent years by Australian and British sailors. But a recent resurgence of the class in North America, including the entry of such sailors as 2008 National Champion Bora Gulari from Detroit and Olympic medalists Jonathan and Charlie McKee from Seattle, promises a brighter future for US sailors, who dominated the class from the 30s until the early 60s but have not won a world championship since 1976.

How can I get more information?

To find out more about the Moth Class and see exciting photos and videos of Moths in action, check out the following links:

• International Moth Class Association

• International Moth USA

• Bladerider