About the Penguin Class

The Penguin is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Philip Rhodes in 1933 as a one design racer for frostbite racing on the US east coast and first built in 1939.

The International Penguin Class Dinghy Association is the governing body for the class and maintains this website, forums/groups for discussion, and contact with Fleets located on the U.S. East Coast, in the U.S. Midwest, in Argentina, and in Brazil.

History of the Penguin Class Dinghy Association

(adapted from /class/bylaws)

In 1938–39, a small group of Potomac and Chesapeake Bay sailors near Alexandria, Virginia, wrote to leading naval architects for plans for a dinghy that could easily be built by an amateur. Philip Rhodes responded with the design for an 11.5 ft. dinghy, which could be constructed from waterproof plywood.

By the end of 1939, twelve boats built from these plans were being sailed on the Potomac River. Herbert L. Stone, Editor of YACHTING, published an article in May 1940 featuring the plans and specifications of the Penguin. The resulting flood of requests for plans nearly overwhelmed the office. This surge of interest led to the organization of the National Class. At a fall meeting in Alexandria, the By-Laws were adopted and officers elected: President—W. W. Heintz, Executive Vice President—Paul Tomalin, and Secretary-Treasurer—Ralph A. Youngs.

Fleets began to appear across the country. In 1941, Seattle had one of the largest fleets, and for the first time, races were held there during the winter season. Manhasset Bay, on Long Island Sound, soon boasted a large fleet as well. The first open regatta was held at the Old Dominion Boat Club in Alexandria, with Penguins attending from three states and the District of Columbia. Plans for a National Regatta were underway. With the start of World War II, Penguins became more popular than ever, as they were inexpensive to build, could be sailed within small harbors, and were easily transported. Fleets were chartered in Tacoma, Washington; Los Angeles and San Diego, California; and Vancouver, British Columbia—the latter being the first fleet chartered outside the United States.

In September 1941, the first National Penguin Class Dinghy Association Regatta was held at Annapolis, Maryland, with 35 Penguins from 10 fleets participating. Walter Lawson of the Potomac River Fleet won with No. 8 “Potlatch”; Leonard Penso, in “Gadget” No. 96, was second; and Charles Runyon, in “Murgaes” No. 20, was third. Paul Morris, in “Mike Fright” No. 132, the only contender from the West Coast, took sixth place.

Because the racing fleet was too large to sail as one group, a preliminary series of three races was held to divide the contenders into two divisions. The first division competed for the National Championship Trophy (Perpetual), donated by the Annapolis Yacht Club. The second division trophy, donated by Class President William Heintz, was won by Junerose Markusson in “June” No. 304, of Staten Island, N.Y. At the Annual Meeting, William Heintz was re-elected President, Charles Runyon became Executive Vice President, and Ralph Youngs remained Secretary-Treasurer.

During World War II, yachtsmen were allowed to continue sailing under certain conditions. Everyone who sailed had to have Coast Guard identification cards. Power boats had so little gasoline that they had to stay tied to the docks. Penguins became even more popular. The U.S. Naval Training Center at San Diego bought a large fleet of Penguins. Captain H. C. Gearing, head of the Training Center, donated a handsome silver trophy to be raced for as often as possible between the sailors at the Station and the San Diego Yacht Club.

No National Regattas were held in 1942, 1943, or 1944 due to the war, but in 1945, despite restrictions on travel and gas rationing, it was decided to hold a National meet once more. Local boats from the Potomac River and Hampton Fleets were loaned for the occasion. The races were sponsored by the Old Dominion Boat Club at Alexandria, Virginia. Again, there were so many skippers that they were divided into two groups of 15 each. Eliminations were held, with the first 10 of each group advancing. Walter Lawson again took first place, with J. L. Stevens of Hampton second, and Len Penso third. Len Penso was elected President of the Class; J. Nelson Daniel, Executive Vice President; Walter Lawson, Secretary; and Robert Browning, Treasurer.

To prevent the National Championship Regattas from becoming unwieldy, it was decided to hold elimination races in each fleet to select the top one, two, or three skippers as contenders.

Only eleven contestants from five fleets sailed in the 1946 National races, held at Port Washington Yacht Club, Manhasset Bay, Long Island, N.Y. Walter Lawson in “Pink Lady” No. 617 again came out on top. C. M. Cox of Hampton, in “Cat’s Paw” No. 14, was second, and Wirt Gill of the Potomac River Fleet, in “Skeptic” No. 7, was third. The National Officers elected for 1947 were Leonard Penso, President; George C. Jessop, Executive Vice President; Wirt Gill, Secretary; and Robert C. Browning, Treasurer.

The 1947 Regatta was held at the Hampton Yacht Club, Hampton, Virginia. There was no doubt about the new National Champion when Runyon Colie, Jr., in “Outsider” No. 1377, from the Downer Fleet of Mantoloking, N.J., won four firsts and one second out of a field of ten contestants from six fleets. Joe Krafft of the Potomac Fleet, in “Pluto” No. 900, took second place; and R. D. Israel, in “Chilly” No. 571, of the San Diego Bay Fleet, was third. Bert and Faith Israel drove all the way from San Diego, California, with the Penguin on top of their car, to compete in the Nationals.

Election of officers was held and Edward B. Rowe, Jr., was made President of the Association; R. D. Israel, Executive Vice President; Alvin E. Cox, Treasurer; and Charles V. Boykin, Secretary. Headquarters was moved to Hampton from Washington, D.C., early in January 1948, with San Diego, California, becoming the Branch Office location.

In 1948, the National Regatta was held at Mantoloking, the home waters of the winner, Runyon Colie. Ex-champ Walter Lawson sailed in a boat built in a little over a week, after a car crashed into his boat (stowed in Lawson’s yard), wrecking it. The same contestants were on hand: Lawson, Len Penso, Wirt Gill, Ed Rowe, Jack Reckord, Joe Krafft, Burton E. Morris, Charles Boykin, and Ray Hooker. Many penalties were suffered by the contestants for barging, collisions, touching markers, and other fouls. Marshal Morehouse won the first challenge trophy for the high-point man of the fleets competing for the first time. Runyon Colie again won first place with crew Betsy Allen, 8.2 points ahead of Len and Dorothy Penso, with Jack and Janet Reckord third. Walter Lawson was fourth. Mantoloking Yacht Club furnished free lunches and beverages between races.

With one “West Indian disturbance” skittering along the Atlantic seaboard and another busily tearing across Florida and points northward, the 1949 Penguin Class Dinghy Association’s National Championship series was sailed in the mouth of the Severn River under the sponsorship of the Annapolis Yacht Club. Twenty-seven boats gathered from far places, including California and the Gulf States, and sailed five races in assorted winds. Runyon Colie, Jr., of the Downer Fleet at Mantoloking, N.J., for the third straight year, established himself as class champion of champions. With Miss Mary Elizabeth Pilling as crew, Colie left no doubts as to his right to the title.

Successive years’ winners are tabulated in your Yearbook, and the narrative of each Championship can be found in the next annual following the races.

From a modest beginning of only twelve boats in 1939, the Class has grown to be one of the world’s leaders. At the time of this writing (summer 1963), Class registrations are at the 7,400 mark. Commercial boat builders from coast to coast have increased production, and new builders are entering the Penguin field.

The approval of restricted fiberglass fabrication in the fall of 1959 has produced results. A number of fabricators have been approved, and more than 300 fiberglass boats are in service.

New fleets are being chartered at the average rate of a dozen a year and now total over 150. Brazilian growth, guided by Sr. R. R. Bekman, has been rapid and firm and appears to be leading towards adoption of the Penguin by key clubs in the sister countries of Argentina and Uruguay.

Participation by Brazilians in U.S. regattas and by U.S. Juniors in the First International Junior Regatta at Rio in 1962 opens an avenue, particularly for Juniors, to some fine opportunities for competition abroad.

The precepts upon which the Class was founded have been closely followed. Amendments to Class By-Laws have been few over the years and have aimed at closing off minor loopholes.