Single Handed Sailing Dinghies

Single handed sailing dinghies cover almost every era and style of dinghy sailing, from classic Lasers and Streakers through to modern lightweight racers, powerful hiking boats, trapeze single-handers and full foiling machines. In handicap racing, a lower Portsmouth Yardstick number generally means a faster boat, although clubs may adjust numbers locally where classes perform differently on their own water.

ILCA 7 / ILCA 6 / ILCA 4

ILCA 7, ILCA 6 and ILCA 4 are the modern class names for the Laser Standard, Laser Radial and Laser 4.7 style rigs. They remain among the most popular single handed dinghies in the world, with simple rigging, strict one-design racing and huge club-level recognition. The 2026 RYA PY numbers are 1103 for ILCA 7, 1156 for ILCA 6 and 1218 for ILCA 4.

Laser 1 (non-ILCA)

Laser 1 is the classic pre-ILCA version of the same hugely successful single handed dinghy. It is still a very popular used buy for club racing, training, casual sailing and sailors returning to the sport. For PY purposes, the closest 2026 RYA PN reference is the “ILCA 7 / Laser” entry at 1103, with Radial/ILCA 6 and 4.7/ILCA 4 rigs using their own numbers where appropriate.

RS Aero

RS Aero is a lightweight modern single-hander with several rig sizes, making it suitable for a wide range of sailors. It is quick, responsive and much lighter ashore than many older designs, which makes it attractive to club racers who want modern performance without a complex rig. The 2026 RYA PY numbers are 1141 for the RS Aero 5, 1098 for the RS Aero 6, 1062 for the RS Aero 7 and 1005 for the RS Aero 9.

Streaker

Streaker is a light, responsive and well-loved single-hander, especially popular with lighter sailors and those who enjoy tactical club racing. It is simple compared with more modern performance boats, but still rewards good technique, smooth handling and careful boat preparation. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Streaker is 1121.

Supernova

Supernova is a modern, roomy and versatile single-hander with a strong following among adult club sailors. It offers more performance than a basic training boat but remains manageable, comfortable and practical for regular racing. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Supernova is 1075.

Phantom

Phantom is a powerful single handed hiking dinghy often favoured by larger or stronger sailors. It has plenty of pace, a big rig and excellent club racing potential, but it rewards fitness and good hiking technique, especially in breeze. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Phantom is 998.

Finn

Finn is one of the great classic single handed racing dinghies, with a long Olympic history and a reputation for physical, tactical sailing. It suits heavier, experienced sailors who enjoy powerful upwind work, fine rig control and traditional high-level dinghy racing. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Finn is 1049.

D-Zero

D-Zero is a modern single-hander designed to be light, clean and efficient without becoming intimidating. It is a good choice for sailors who want a simple, responsive performance dinghy that is easy to handle ashore and lively on the water. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Devoti D-Zero is 1029.

Solution

Solution is a modern single handed racing dinghy that sits in a practical middle ground between classic club boats and more extreme performance designs. It is light, agile and rewarding to sail, especially for helms who want something more distinctive than the mainstream one-design options. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Solution is 1112.

Blaze

Blaze is a distinctive winged single-hander that gives the helm extra leverage without using a trapeze. It suits sailors who want power, speed and exciting hiking performance, while still keeping the boat relatively simple compared with skiffs. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Blaze is 1030.

Contender

Contender is a classic single handed trapeze dinghy for experienced sailors who want power, speed and technical sailing without an asymmetric spinnaker. It has a long international history and remains one of the benchmark solo trapeze boats. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Contender is 973.

Musto Skiff

Musto Skiff is a high-performance single handed skiff with trapeze and asymmetric spinnaker. It is fast, physical and technical, aimed at skilled sailors who enjoy apparent-wind sailing and proper skiff handling. The 2026 RYA PY number for the Musto Skiff is 830.RS700

RS700 is another serious single handed skiff, with trapeze, asymmetric spinnaker and adjustable systems intended to suit a range of helm weights. It is a specialist boat for confident sailors who want high speed and demanding handling without needing a crew. The 2026 RYA PY number for the RS700 is 845.

International Moth

International Moth is the most specialist boat in this group, especially in modern foiling form. It is extremely fast, technical and development-led, aimed at skilled sailors who enjoy advanced setup, boat handling and cutting-edge performance. The International Moth is not listed in the supplied main 2026 RYA PN PDF; the closest 2026 limited-data reference is “International Moth – no foils” at 990. Historic RYA data has also shown foiling International Moths around 570, so clubs should treat any Moth handicap with particular care and use local guidance where possible.

Choosing a Single Handed Dinghy

If you want a widely supported, straightforward club racer, start with the ILCA/Laser family, RS Aero, Streaker or Supernova. Larger or stronger sailors may prefer the Phantom, Finn or Blaze, while experienced performance sailors may be drawn to the Contender, Musto Skiff, RS700 or International Moth.

Before buying, check class association advice, local fleet strength, sail condition, spars, foils, controls, trolley and road trailer. With single handed dinghies, condition and class support can matter just as much as headline speed, especially if you want regular racing rather than just an interesting boat in the dinghy park.

The DinghyMart Chandlery is OPEN

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.

Practical sailing tools for race starts, training and race management.

Windie Chandlery

SKU anemometer1 Shop item

Windie 360° Anemometer (handheld)

Chandlery

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 Chandlery

SKU windiewatch Shop item

Windie Sailing Race Timer Watch

Chandlery

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…

reference : RYA PN PDF

Marcella B

Very good easy to use

Steve Ashbee

An amazingly easy way to sell your dinghy. Interest has come from the UK and Europe, so you get big exposure. Also, if you have a question then Tristan is very easily contacted. What's not to like?

Mark Foley

Always very easy to use and the boats are as advertised!