Star (keelboat)

{{Short description|International one-design racing sailing keelboat class}} {{Infobox sailboat specifications |image boat = Star (keelboat).svg |class_image = Star red.svg |crew = 2 (Skipper + Crew) {{abbr|S|Skipper's weight}} + 1.5 {{abbr|C|Crew's weight}} ≤ {{convert|250|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="Class-Rules" /> |hull type = [[keelboat]] |rig = [[sloop]] |loa = {{height|m=6.922|precision=0}}<ref name="Specifications" /> |lwl = {{height|m=4.724|precision=0}} |beam = {{height|m=1.734|precision=0}} at [[deck (ship)|deck]] {{height|m=1.372|precision=0}} at [[chine (boating)|chine]] |draft = {{height|m=1.016|precision=0}} |keel type = [[bulb keel]] {{convert|401.5|+/-|7|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="Specifications" /> |hull weight = ≥ {{convert|671|kg|abbr=on}} (including keel)<ref name="Specifications" /> |mastheight = {{height|m=9.652|precision=0}} |mainsailandjib= ≤ {{convert|26.5|m2|abbr=on}} |sailarea main = {{convert|20.5|m2|abbr=on}} |sailarea headsail = {{convert|6.0|m2|abbr=on}} |d-pn = |rya-pn = |phrf = |year = 1910 |designer = Francis Sweisguth |location = |updated = 23 August 2015 |status = former }} The '''Star''' is a {{convert|6.9|m}} one-design racing [[keelboat]] for two people designed by [[Francis Sweisguth]] in 1910. The Star was an [[Olympic sailing classes|Olympic sailboat class]] from 1932 through to 2012, the last year keelboats appeared at the Summer Olympics.

It is [[sloop]]-rigged, with a [[mainsail]] larger in proportional size than any other boat of its length. Unlike most modern racing boats, it does not use a [[spinnaker]] when sailing downwind. Instead, when running downwind a [[whisker pole]] is used to hold the [[jib]] out to windward for correct wind flow. Early Stars were built from wood, but modern boats are generally made of [[fiberglass]]. The boat must weigh at least {{convert|671|kg|abbr=on}} with a maximum total sail area of {{convert|26.5|m2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Rules-Page">{{cite web |url=http://www.starclass.org/rules_items/rules.shtml |title=Rules of the ISCYRA |author= |date=2015 |website=Star Log |publisher=International Star Class Yacht Racing Association |access-date=2015-08-23}}</ref><ref name="Specifications">{{cite web |url=http://www.starclass.org/rules_items/2015specifications.pdf |title=2015 Specifications |author= |date=2015 |website=Star Log |publisher=International Star Class Yacht Racing Association |access-date=2015-08-23 }}</ref><ref name="Class-Rules">{{cite web |url=http://www.starclass.org/rules_items/2015rulespart1and2.pdf |title=Star Class Association Rules |author= |date=January 2015 |website=Star Log |publisher=International Star Class Yacht Racing Association |access-date=2015-08-23 }}</ref> The Star class pioneered an unusual circular [[boom vang]] track, which allows the vang to effectively hold the boom down even when the boom is turned far outboard on a downwind run. Another notable aspect of Star sailing is the extreme [[hiking (sailing)|hiking]] position adopted by the crew and at times the helmsman, who normally use a harness to help hang low off the windward side of the boat with only their lower legs inside.

==History== [[File:Star original.svg|thumb|Original sail plan (pre-1922)]] The Star was designed in 1910 by Francis Sweisguth, a draftsman at the William Gardner Marine Architect office. Over the course of his career Sweisguth designed a variety of yachts. A more traditional example of his work is Silent Maid, a Barnegat Bay B-class catboat designed shortly after the Star. The first 22 stars were built in [[Port Washington, New York]] by [[Isaac E. Smith|Ike Smith]] during the winter of 1910–11. Since that time, over 8,600 boats have been built, with more than 2,000 actively racing in 170 fleets.<ref name="Bird">{{cite journal |last=Bird |first=Vanessa |date=March 22, 2011 |title=International Star Class |url=http://www.classicboat.co.uk/articles/class-notes/the-international-star-2/ |series=Classic Classes |journal=[[Classic Boat]] |publisher=Chelsea Magazines Ltd. |access-date=2015-08-23}}</ref>

The hull is a hard [[chine (boating)|chine]] design with a slight curve to the bottom section, and a [[bulb keel]]. The Star was originally rigged with a large, low-aspect-ratio [[Gunter rig|gunter]] mainsail and jib, which was replaced by a short [[bermuda rig]] gradually during the early 1920s, before the current tall bermuda sail plan was adopted in 1930. In 1965, [[fiberglass]] replaced wood as the primary hull material. Other changes to the strict design rules for the Star class, include adding flexible [[spar (sailing)|spars]], an innovative circular-track [[boom vang]], and self-bailers.<ref name="Bird" />

== Events == [[File:Star Boats NHYC June 2013 photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|Star Boats North American Championships June 2013]] [[File:Star Boats 3 NHYC June 2013 photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|Star Boats NHYC North American Championships June 2013]]

=== Olympics === The Star was added to the Olympic roster for the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Due to [[World War II]], there were no Olympic games held in 1940 or 1944, and for [[Sailing at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976]], the Star was replaced by the [[Tempest (keelboat)|Tempest]] for keelboat competition. In 2011 keelboats were removed from [[sailing at the 2016 Summer Olympics]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]]. The last keelboat Olympics competition was at the [[Sailing at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sailing.org/35891.php|title = Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Committee Presentation}}</ref>

=== World Championships === {{Main|Star World Championships}}

The [[Star World Championships]] has been held annually since 1923. Most titles has American sailor [[Lowell North]] won, with five titles between 1945 and 1973 and another seven podiums. The most crowned skipper-crew combination is Italian duo [[Agostino Straulino]] and [[Nicolò Rode]] and Brazilian duo [[Robert Scheidt]] and [[Bruno Prada]] with three titles each. Also, American [[Mark Reynolds (sailor)|Mark Reynolds]] has three titles, but with different crew.

=== Star Vintage Gold Cup === {{Main|Star Vintage Gold Cup}}

The [[Star Vintage Gold Cup]] is an annual regatta for vintage Star-class yachts, administered as a sanctioned special event by the [[International Star Class Yacht Racing Association]]. Established in 2017, the event is hosted by the [[Gull Lake (Michigan)|Gull Lake]] Star Fleet and is sailed in vintage Star boats, including restored wooden hulls. In addition to the Vintage Gold Cup trophy, the winner is awarded a gold laurel wreath honor in accordance with Star Class tradition. The laurel wreath may be displayed on the sail and is retained by the recipient following their victory. <ref>{{cite web |title=Star Vintage Gold Cup |url=https://starclass.org/trophies/trophy/d/vintage-gold-cup |publisher=International Star Class Yacht Racing Association |access-date= }}</ref>

=== Star Sailors League === {{Main|Star Sailors League}}

The [[Star Sailors League]] was created in 2013 by athletes to establish a sustainable sailing circuit.

== Famous Star sailors == * [[Ralph Craig]] (Olympic 100 and 200 meter Champion: 1912) * [[Duarte Bello]] (Championship competitor, 1947–1970s. Invented auto-bailers and circular boom-vang track) * [[John F. Kennedy]] (Nantucket Sound Star Class Championship: 1936)<ref name="Bird" /> * [[Agostino Straulino]] (Olympic Champion: 1952; World Champion: 1952, 1953, 1956; Olympic Silver: 1956) * [[Robert Halperin]] (Olympic Bronze: 1960; Pan American Games Gold: 1963) * [[Paul Elvstrøm]] (World Champion: 1966, 1967) * [[Dennis Conner]] (World Champion: 1971, 1977) * [[Buddy Melges]] (World Champion: 1978, 1979) * [[Iain Percy]] (Olympic Champion: 2008; World Champion: 2010; Olympic Silver: 2012) * [[Robert Scheidt]] (Olympic Silver: 2008; Olympic Bronze: 2012; World Champion: 2008, 2011, 2012; SSL Finals: 2013) * [[Fredrik Lööf]] (World Champion: 2001, 2004; Olympic Champion: 2012)

==See also== *[[Comet (dinghy)]], a smaller and more easily transported sailboat, based upon the Star design

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Star (keelboat)}} * [http://www.starclass.org International Star Class Yacht Racing Association (ISCYRA)] * [http://origin.sailing.org/classesandequipment/STR.php International Star Class] at the ''International Sailing Federation'' (ISAF) * [http://www.classicboat.co.uk/class-notes/the-international-star-2/ International Star Class] in "Classic Classes" at ''[[Classic Boat]]'' magazine * [http://www.theamya.org/boats/star45/ THe Star 45 Class] at the ''American Model Yachting Association'' (AMYA)

[[Category:Star (keelboat)| ]] [[Category:Olympic sailing classes]] [[Category:1910s sailboat type designs]] [[Category:Sailboat type designs by Francis Sweisguth]] [[Category:Sailboat types built by Clark Boat Company]] [[Category:One-design sailing classes]] [[Category:22-foot keelboats]]