The Boats

Bermuda
The International One Design (IOD) is a classic racing sloop synonymous with Bermuda. The IOD is the first class to achieve "International Classic Yacht" status with the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

In 1935 while racing in Bermuda, Cornelius Shield saw the six meter yacht Saga. He was so taken with the lovely boat that he had designer Bjarne Aas from Fredrikstad, Norway design a similar boat – though with slightly less displacement, a shorter shelter, storage cabin and more lofty rig – with the intention of starting a class of true "international one-design boats".

In 1936 Shields brought the first 11-meter IOD boat, "Alieen", to Long Island where he started a fleet. The following summer 1937, there were 25 IOD boats racing on the Long Island sound. Other fleets later emerged in Bermuda, Marblehead, Northeast Harbour Norway, Sweden, Scotland, San Francisco and Fisher Island. To ensure the survival of the IOD moulds during World War II and the German invasion of Norway, Bjarne Aas buried them. The same moulds were later used to produce a plug for fiberglass IODs, which are prevalent in the ten active IOD fleets in five countries today.

New Zealand
Built in 1990 by McDell Marine, these gutsy purpose-built boats - better know as MRX (Match Racing Extraordinary) – were the world’s first purpose built international match racing fleet.

Designer Bruce Farr developed a concept based on the Farr 1020 because its size, displacement, and characteristics were almost ideal for match racing and the hull required little modification. The result is a boat whose performance combines the best features of an Olympic dinghy and a modern keelboat, making for some great sailing and exciting viewing. Upwind, a boat speed over 6.5 knots is easily achieved while downwind the MRX is well balanced, controllable and easy to sail.

First used for the Steinlager Cup International Series, the MRX fleet is now used for major match and fleet yacht racing and youth training.

Sweden
The DS 37 One Design Match Racer is considered a next to perfect boat for match racing. It is fast and nimble, thus a challenge to its crew of five, not least in rough weather. It was designed specifically for match racing by a Danish design team in 1991.

The boats used in Marstrand are owned by different yacht clubs and companies in Denmark and gathered for large events. Two of the boats are used by the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club in the training of new Swedish match racing teams. These two boats are also for hire as part of a conference programme in the GKSS's clubhouse.

Hull and deck are of a very strong sandwich construction, with manually layered glass fibre and NGA gelcoat. Keel support of galvanized steel, prepared for center lift.

Denmark
The Danish Open uses the same boat, the DS 37 One Design Match Racer, as the Swedish Match Cup. The fleet of DS 37 is the pride and joy of event host, Skovshoved Match Race Center, where a new generation of Danish sailors train daily aboard the boats.

Italy
The Tom 28 was designed and built by Ravenna designer, Giovanni Ceccarelli, specifically for the Trombini Match Race. For the realization of this monotype the designer sought the collaboration of the technical directors of the event and some of the most well-known yachtsman.

The eight and a half meters long Tom 28 is the most advanced monotype for match racing in the world. A guarantee of greater performance: light and with very ample sails, exceptional maneuverability even with light wind, the Tom 28 represents yet another reason to attend the "Trombini" regatta.