A Fast, Uncompromised, & Beautiful Boat
In 1934, Vincent J. Serio created a nimble one-design racing dinghy specifically for the Chesapeake Bay ( Read more about the history of the design here ). Her centerboard, shallow draft, and large sail plan matched the Chesapeake's depth and light summertime breezes, while in a spring or autumn blow a few extra crewmembers (up to four total) kept the boat (relatively) level. Over time, the class rules were modified to equip the Hampton crew with a trapeze, so a pair of sailors could drive the boat in any reasonable wind. That change led to the Hampton of today, with her modern, flexible rig over a classic hull shape that leaps up and planes in a breeze. The modern rig allows sailors to match the rig to conditions--coaxing every fraction of a knot from the boat in a drifter or flattening the sails to depower in a blow. The large mainsail also eliminates the need for a spinnaker, making boathandling easier in all conditions. Yelling at a spinnaker is slow . . . The fiberglass Hampton, developed in the 1960's, blends modern materials and building techniques with her predecessor's classic lines to create durable, low-maintenance boats that keep the charm of their wooden sisters. Beautiful mahogany coamings distinguish fiberglass Hamptons from all-plastic boats, while her self-bailing cockpit is a real convenience.
Recently, several new, wooden Hamptons have been commissioned. Wood, it turns out, remains a fine boatbuilding material (it floats!). For many, the somewhat increased maintenance is nicely balanced by the wooden boats aesthetics and stiffness. These modern classics don't slouch about, either -- one of them carried the 2003 HOD National Champion to victory.
Competitive used boats can also be found (check out the classifieds ). These range from classic wooden boats from the 1950s to fiberglass boats of the '70s, '80s, and '90s that still hold their own. There is plenty of room to grow in a Hampton and the class rules ensure that well-kept older boats need not face obsolescence. Click here to link to more about the boat, including specifications.
Active, Competitive Racing
The Hampton is one of the most active double-handed one-designs on the Chesapeake. The class supports a racing schedule of nearly 20 events a year. These range all up and down the Chesapeake, from Rock Hall and Cambridge, Maryland, to the Potomac River by the District of Columbia, to Norfolk and Hampton, Virginia. With an average of over twelve boats on the line for the regattas of the summer of 2003, there is plenty of competition. The quality of competition is excellent. The class attracts some of the very best sailors on the Bay, including collegiate all-Americans and champions from other one-design and handicap classes. Boats and boat speeds in the class are remarkably even, which means that Hampton racing is a game of tactics, strategy and helmsmanship. The class offers a wide range of racing, from after-work fun-races, to the annual three-day Championship.
Sailing and Racing with Friends
Perhaps the most important feature of the class is its people. The class has always attracted some of the friendliest sailors on the Bay. This camaraderie makes the Hampton class an excellent place for anyone to develop their sailing skills or just have fun. Hampton sailors are a truly open and helpful group that take a genuine interest in helping each other become better sailors.
So, unless it is January or you're reading this in Iowa, track down the nearest place where people sail Hamptons and go judge for yourself.
Click to Return to home page.
