2 Up Sailing Dinghies
Modern two-person sailing dinghies offer something for almost every type of sailor, from youth training and family sailing through to serious asymmetric racing and high-performance skiff sailing. Popular boats in this group include the 2000, RS Feva, Topper Topaz, Topaz Argo, RS200, RS400, 29er, RS800 and 49er.
Classic 2 up sailing dinghies remain hugely popular with UK sailors because they combine character, strong class history and rewarding racing. Some are simple family and club boats, while others are serious performance dinghies with trapezes, spinnakers and active open-meeting scenes. This guide starts with the better-known and more widely recognised classic double-handers before moving into the more specialist performance and development classes.
Modern 2-up Dinghies
Training, Family and Club Sailing
The 2000, formerly the Laser 2000 and now part of the RS range, is one of the most approachable modern two-person dinghies. It is stable, practical and versatile, making it suitable for adult crews, parent-and-child sailing, training use and club racing. The 2026 RYA Portsmouth Yardstick number for the 2000 is 1122.
The RS Feva is a major youth and family class, especially popular with younger sailors learning to sail with a jib and asymmetric spinnaker. The RS Feva XL is listed in the 2026 RYA PN list at 1248, with the RYA noting that clubs should distinguish between S and XL variants. The Topper Topaz and Topaz Argo also sit in this training and family-friendly area, although they are not listed as named classes in the current 2026 RYA PN PDF.
Youth Performance Boats
The 29er is a serious youth performance dinghy and a recognised stepping stone toward high-performance skiff sailing. It is fast, lightweight and physically demanding, with a single trapeze and asymmetric spinnaker. It is best suited to committed youth sailors and confident crews rather than complete beginners.
Its 2026 RYA Portsmouth Yardstick number is 900, which shows how much faster it is than more forgiving training boats such as the 2000 or RS Feva. When comparing used 29ers, buyers should pay close attention to sail condition, mast, foils, control systems, trolley, trailer and whether the boat is genuinely race-ready or better suited to training.
Modern Asymmetric Club Racers
The RS200 is one of the most popular modern two-person club racing dinghies. It suits lighter to medium-weight crews and rewards good boat handling, teamwork and tactical sailing. With a 2026 PY number of 1053, it offers lively performance without becoming too extreme for regular club use.
The RS400 is more powerful and faster, with a 2026 PY number of 945. It suits larger or stronger crews who want an exciting asymmetric dinghy with strong class racing and plenty of pace. Compared with the RS200, the RS400 is more physical and more rewarding in breeze, but it also demands better crew coordination.
High-Performance Skiffs
The RS800 and 49er sit at the high-performance end of modern two-person dinghy sailing. These are fast, technical boats aimed at experienced sailors who are comfortable with trapeze work, asymmetric spinnakers and apparent-wind sailing. They are not normally first double-handers, but they can be hugely rewarding for skilled teams.
The RS800 is listed in the 2026 RYA PN list at 797, making it the fastest boat in this group with a number shown in the supplied PDF. The 49er is an Olympic-class skiff and is even more specialist with a PY number of 697
Choosing the Right Modern 2 Up Dinghy
When choosing a modern two-person dinghy, think carefully about crew weight, experience, local fleet strength and where the boat will be sailed. A 2000, RS Feva, Topper Topaz or Topaz Argo may be ideal for family sailing, training or early club racing. An RS200 or RS400 is better for regular asymmetric club racing, while a 29er, RS800 or 49er is more suitable for experienced sailors looking for high-performance sailing.
Before buying, check the relevant class association pages for class rules, tuning advice and open meeting activity. You can also browse DinghyMart’s own A–Z of sailing dinghy classes to compare current used boats, typical asking prices and complete packages across different modern two-person dinghy classes.
Classic 2 Up Sailing Dinghies
GP14
The GP14 is one of the best-known classic 2 up dinghies in the UK. Stable, versatile and well supported, it works for club racing, training, family sailing and even light cruising. The 2026 RYA Portsmouth Yardstick number for the GP14 is 1145, placing it in a sensible all-round performance bracket rather than the extreme racing end of the fleet.
Enterprise
The Enterprise is a classic two-person club racing dinghy with a simple mainsail-and-jib layout and no spinnaker. It is light, responsive and tactical, making it a good choice for crews who want close racing without too much complexity. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Enterprise is 1137.
Mirror
The Mirror is one of the most recognisable family and training dinghies ever built, with its distinctive pram bow and long history as a home-build and club boat. It is not fast, but it is forgiving, affordable and ideal for families, juniors and relaxed club sailing. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Mirror is 1364.
Fireball
The Fireball is a proper classic performance dinghy with a trapeze, spinnaker and a long international racing history. It suits confident crews who want speed, planing performance and tactical racing without moving into modern skiff territory. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Fireball is 960.
Merlin Rocket
The Merlin Rocket is one of the UK’s most iconic classic development classes. It has no trapeze, but it is powerful, technical and rewards tuning, teamwork and good boat handling. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Merlin Rocket is 980, reflecting its strong performance in skilled hands.
505
The 505 is a fast, powerful and highly respected international two-person dinghy. With a trapeze and spinnaker, it is aimed at experienced sailors who enjoy technical setup, speed and serious racing. The 2026 RYA PY number for the 505 is 892, making it one of the quickest classic dinghies in this group.
470
The 470 is a famous double-handed performance dinghy with Olympic history. It is technical, responsive and best suited to ambitious crews who enjoy trapeze work, spinnaker handling and precise boat setup. The 470 is around 973 but it is not covered in the RYA’s 2026 PY PDF.
Albacore
The Albacore is a quick and elegant classic two-person dinghy with no spinnaker. It is stable enough for developing sailors but fast and tactical enough to reward experienced club racers. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Albacore is 1037.
National 12
The National 12 is a classic two-person development dinghy sailed without a spinnaker. It is light, technical and especially rewarding for sailors who enjoy inland racing, tuning and precise boat handling. The 2026 RYA PY number for the National 12 is 1070.
Scorpion
The Scorpion is a fast, elegant and well-balanced classic performance double-hander. It has a spinnaker but no trapeze, so it offers plenty of pace and tactical racing without the physical demands of trapeze classes. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Scorpion is 1042.
Firefly
The Firefly is a beautifully balanced classic two-person dinghy, strongly associated with team racing, university sailing and close tactical racing. Its simple mainsail-and-jib layout makes it more about positioning, teamwork and smooth handling than outright speed. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Firefly is 1178.
Graduate
The Graduate is a light, elegant and manageable classic double-hander. It suits sailors who want responsive club racing without the complication of trapezes, asymmetric spinnakers or high-powered rigs. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Graduate is 1110.
Heron
The Heron is a small, stable and traditional two-person dinghy often used for family sailing, training and relaxed club use. It can also be sailed single-handed, making it a practical choice for sailors who want something simple and forgiving. The Heron is not shown as a named entry in the supplied 2026 RYA PY PDF but a commonly used PY number is 1345
Hornet
The Hornet is a fast classic performance dinghy with trapeze and spinnaker. It suits experienced crews who enjoy traditional high-performance sailing, tactical racing and a more demanding boat than the average club double-hander. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Hornet is 950.
Laser 2 Fun
The Laser 2 Fun is a lively and accessible two-person dinghy that offers trapeze-and-spinnaker fun without the intensity of modern skiffs. It can be a good used buy for club sailors, youth progression and family crews wanting more performance than a basic training boat. The Laser 2 is not shown as a named entry in the supplied 2026 RYA PY PDF but an accepted PY number is around 1085
International 14
The International 14 is a specialist high-performance development dinghy with a long and famous racing history. It is fast, technical and aimed at skilled crews who enjoy advanced boat handling, development-class thinking and serious performance sailing. The International 14 is not shown as a named entry in the supplied 2026 RYA PY PDF but an acceptable PY number is 758
Cherub
The Cherub is a lightweight development skiff for sailors who like experimentation, speed and technical sailing. It is one of the more specialist boats in this classic 2 up group and is best suited to experienced crews rather than casual family sailing. The Cherub is not shown as a named entry in the supplied 2026 RYA PY PDF however several sailing clubs use a PY around 903
Wayfarer
Wayfarer is one of the best-known British dayboats and cruising dinghies. It is roomy, stable and capable, with a long history in training, family sailing, cruising and club racing. A good Wayfarer can be used for relaxed day sailing, passage-style dinghy cruising or more serious handicap racing, making it one of the most versatile boats in this group. The 2026 RYA Portsmouth Yardstick number for the Wayfarer is 1107.
Choosing a Classic 2 Up Dinghy
If you want an easy route into classic double-handed sailing, start with boats such as the GP14, Enterprise, Mirror, Graduate or Heron. If you want more speed and stronger racing, look at the Fireball, Merlin Rocket, Scorpion, Albacore or National 12. For serious performance sailing, the 505, 470, Hornet, International 14 and Cherub are much more specialist and demand greater skill, fitness and maintenance awareness.
Before buying, check the boat’s sails, foils, mast, boom, rigging, controls, cover, trolley and road trailer. Older classic dinghies can be excellent value, but condition matters far more than age alone. Browse DinghyMart’s class pages to compare current used examples and see which classic 2 up dinghies are available in the UK.
DinghyMart Store
Don’t forget we have a small selection of sailing tools in our online chandlery store. Most popular are this Sailing Race Timer Watch with 5,4,1,0 countdown and the Windie Anemometer. Both items are held in stock in Norfolk and ready to ship daily.
Windie Sailing Kit
ShopPractical sailing tools for race starts, training and race management.
Windie ChandleryWindie 360° Anemometer (handheld)
The Windie 360 Handheld Anemometer is a compact sailing wind meter designed to give fast, reliable wind speed readings on the water. Ideal for dinghy sailors, yacht racers,…
Windie ChandleryWindie Sailing Race Timer Watch
The Windie Sailing Timer is a simple, purpose-built sailing race countdown watch for dinghy sailors, yacht racers and race officers. Designed around the standard 5-4-1-GO start sequence, it…
- references : RYA PN PDF
