Europe (dinghy)
One-person dinghy, Olympic women's class from 1992 to 2008.
The Europe is a single-handed dinghy created by Belgian designer Alois Roland in 1960. It began as a class-legal Moth dinghy before evolving into its own one-design class. The boat suits sailors weighing between 50 and 85 kilograms. Its hull is fibreglass, weighing 45 kilograms, with a fully rigged weight of 60 kilograms. The hull tapers at the stem and has a rounded bottom. The sail is made of dacron, and the mast is carbon fibre, customised to the sailor: lighter sailors use a softer mast, while heavier sailors opt for a stiffer one. Sails are also tailored to match mast stiffness and crew weight. The Europe became the women's single-handed dinghy at the 1992 Summer Olympics, but was replaced by the Laser Radial for the 2008 Games. Since 2008, it has been one of the Vintage Yachting Classes at the Vintage Yachting Games.
- designer
- Alois Roland
- year_designed
- 1960
- country_of_origin
- Belgium
- hull_material
- fibre glass
- hull_weight
- 45 kg
- fully_rigged_weight
- 60 kg
- sail_material
- dacron
- mast_material
- carbon fibre
Lore & Background
The Europe dinghy was designed in Belgium in 1960 by Alois Roland, initially as a class legal Moth dinghy. It later evolved into its own one-design class. The hull is made of fibre glass, weighing 45 kg, and fully rigged it weighs 60 kg. The dinghy is tapering in the stem and round in the bottom, with a dacron sail and a carbon fibre mast specially designed to the sailor. A soft mast is best for light sailors, while heavier sailors use stiffer masts; sails are also specially designed according to mast stiffness and crew weight. The Europe is ideal for sailors weighing 50–85 kilos.
Reader's Guide
The Europe dinghy holds significance as a former Olympic class, serving as the women's single-handed dinghy from the 1992 Summer Olympics until it was replaced by the Laser Radial in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Its design, originating from a Moth dinghy in Belgium in 1960, became a one-design class with specific construction details: a fibre glass hull, dacron sail, and carbon fibre mast that can be tailored to the sailor's weight and stiffness preference. Since 2008, the Europe has been one of the Vintage Yachting Classes at the Vintage Yachting Games, ensuring its continued presence in competitive sailing. The dinghy's legacy includes its role in Olympic history and its adaptability to different sailor weights, making it a notable vessel in the sport of sailing.
Did You Know?
- The Europe was designed in Belgium in 1960 by Alois Roland.
- It was introduced as an Olympic class in the 1992 Summer Olympics as the women's single-handed dinghy.
- The Europe was replaced by the Laser Radial in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Since 2008, the Europe is one of the Vintage Yachting Classes at the Vintage Yachting Games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Europe dinghy and when?
The Europe was created in 1960 by Belgian designer Alois Roland. It originally existed as a class-legal Moth variant before developing into its own standalone one-design class.
What role did the Europe dinghy play in the Olympic Games?
The Europe served as the Olympic women's single-handed dinghy class from the 1992 Barcelona Games through the 2008 Beijing Games. It was a one-person boat suited to sailors in the 50-to-85-kilogram weight range.
What are the basic physical specifications of the Europe dinghy?
The hull is moulded from fibreglass and weighs 45 kilograms on its own, bringing the fully rigged boat to 60 kilograms. The sail is cut from dacron and the mast is carbon fibre, with stiffness tailored to the sailor's weight.
How does the Europe dinghy relate to the Moth class?
The Europe began its life as a variant that was legal within the Moth class before Roland's design was formalised into its own one-design category. Unlike the Moth, the Europe is a single-handed boat with a more rounded, tapered hull shape.
Why is the Europe dinghy considered important in Olympic sailing history?
It gave women a dedicated single-handed dinghy event for three consecutive Olympic cycles, spanning 1992 to 2008. Its long Olympic tenure and the customisation of mast and sail to individual sailors made it a defining class for a generation of women's skippers.
More in Olympic sailing classes 1-24
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