Emerging from the competitive sailing waters of Northern Ireland's Belfast Lough, this one-design sailboat represents a fascinating piece of regional sailing heritage. Class I vessels were specifically created to provide closely matched racing within the sheltered waters of Belfast Lough, where consistent wind patterns and challenging tidal conditions demanded boats with particular handling characteristics. One-design classes like this were developed to emphasize sailing skill over boat modifications, ensuring fair competition among local sailors. The Belfast Lough setting would have influenced the design toward a boat capable of handling the lough's notorious choppy conditions and variable winds that funnel through the surrounding hills. While detailed specifications remain elusive, boats from this era and region typically featured robust construction suited to the demanding Irish sailing environment. The Class I designation suggests this was part of a tiered racing system, likely representing either the premier class or entry-level category within the local fleet. For contemporary sailors interested in classic one-design racing or those drawn to boats with authentic regional character, the Belfast Lough One Design Class I offers a connection to Ireland's rich small-boat racing tradition, though finding examples today would require dedicated searching among classic boat enthusiasts.
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What is the Belfast Lough One Design Class I's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Belfast Lough One Design Class I has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 15.21. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Belfast Lough One Design Class I's comfort ratio?
The Belfast Lough One Design Class I has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 81.31. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Belfast Lough One Design Class I safe for offshore sailing?
The Belfast Lough One Design Class I has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.16. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Belfast Lough One Design Class I?
The theoretical hull speed of the Belfast Lough One Design Class I is 6.7 knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Belfast Lough One Design Class I weigh?
The Belfast Lough One Design Class I has a displacement of 26,800.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 37.25 ft.
Who designed the Belfast Lough One Design Class I?
The Belfast Lough One Design Class I was designed by William Fife Jr., first built in 1898.