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The Star class: a historic one-design that's still evolving
Created in 1910 by Francis Sweisguth in the United States, the Star was born as an extrapolation of the Bug, to offer a drier, higher-performance keelboat. From its very first regatta in 1911, this two-man Bermudan sloop established itself as a technical and accessible racing yacht. With her sharp chine hull, bulb keel and 26.50 m² sail area, she quickly became a vehicle for experimentation, particularly in the field of rigging.
The Star has long been associated with the Olympic Games, from 1932 to London 2012, with the exception of Montreal 1976. This Olympic past remains anchored in the DNA of the boat, which maintains a high sporting standard and attracts sailors from all horizons.
Technical features to enhance performance
With an overall length of 6.92 meters, a beam of 1.73 meters and a draft of over one meter, the Star is a slender, powerful and technical boat. It requires craning on every outing, which explains its relative absence from tidal waters.
The rig, which changed from Houari to Bermudian in 1921, then standardized in 1929, features a 20.50 m² mainsail and a 6 m² jib. The absence of a backstay, due to the length of the boom, requires fine work on the backstays, with very sensitive adjustments, especially in strong winds. The downwind counter-heeling, long spinnaker poles and complex shrouds make this a particularly instructive boat for racing sailors.
A class structured on an international scale
The Star class is organized around the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association (ISCYRA), founded in 1922, which brings together over 8,500 registered yachts in 21 districts on five continents. Europe occupies a historic place in the association, thanks in particular to the initiative of the Cercle de la Voile de Paris (CVP) in 1928. In France, the figure of Enrique Conill remains associated with the introduction of the series.
This independent organization, outside the national federations, allows great flexibility in exchanges and fleet management.
A dynamic French fleet in 2025
Around 100 Star boats are currently operating in France. Three main fleets stand out: Nice on the Mediterranean, Annecy on the Alps, and Les Mureaux (CVP and YCIF) on the Seine. In addition to these hubs, there are occasional groupings such as Hyères.
The national calendar is structured around three major regattas:
- French Championship in Annecy in May
- Conill Trophy in Paris - Les Mureaux in November
- Christmas Regatta in Nice in December
These get-togethers combine conviviality and high-level performance, and bring together former Olympians and world champions, as well as young sailors discovering the series.
A community united around a demanding boat
Sailing a Star means becoming part of a community that shares common values based on performance, transmission and mutual support. The boat is reputed to be demanding, especially in strong winds, but its balance and finesse are a real draw for those who take the helm. The French class puts the emphasis on welcoming and sharing experience between generations of sailors.
With the redesign of the francestarclass.com website, a new team took the helm of the class in March 2025. Hervé Godest is President, with Jean-Gabriel Charton, Jean-Luc Chaboud, Philippe Ergand and Olivier Guérin in charge of communications.
