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S Class

With its large mainsail and classic displacement hull, the S boat excels in light winds while also confidently taming the famous Buzzards Bay southwest breeze.  Small enough to be manageable yet big enough to feel safe, the S boat is easily day-sailed by two people and raced by three or four.  This one-hundred year old Herreshoff design continues to garner the affections of a dedicated group of owners and sailors.  The S Class, in fact and in lore, has been a part of Quissett since the late 1920s.  The primary racing class of the club through the 1930s, S class racing was disbanded during World War Two and withered away in the post war years.  In 2003 the Quissett fleet was miraculously revived and has continued to thrill racing sailors and members ever since.


Crewing on an S-boat


An S-boat can be raced with as few as two people, although challenging if the wind isn't light, and as many as five.  A comfortable number is three to four.  S-boat skippers are often looking for crew and if you have prior crewing experience on a racing sloop, click the title above.  

If you do not have prior racing and/or spinnaker experience, we suggest daysailing on a S-boat first.  See the next section.

Daysailing on an S-boat


A number of S Class skippers love to daysail when they aren't racing and are happy to introduce you to sailing a S-boat.  Our objectives are to develop more crew for sailing and racing S-boats and increase interest in owning an S-boat.  Please click here for who to contact to experience sailing on a S-boat.

History of the S Class


Nathaniel G. Herreshoff, the wizard of Bristol, designed his S Class sailboat in 1919, 5 years after designing the H12.  Initially thought to be ugly by the standards of the day, it turned out to be a very fast and responsive boat, winning many fans.  The popularity of Herreshoff's design resulted in the S Class essentially becoming a one-design class.

S Class sailboats are commonly referred to as "S-boats."  For more on the history of this fascinating sailboat, click the title above. 

Tuning an S-boat


Anyone who is fast in the S Class has considerable knowledge of how to set up, tune, and trim the S-boat.  Click the title above for a guide to tuning a S-boat.

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