The Butterfly is a one-design sailing dinghy, originally designed for a crew of two, but now most commonly raced single-handed. It was designed in 1961 in Libertyville, Illinois by John Barnett. The hull is a scow design. The craft has a stayed mast set as a

Marconi rig A Bermuda rig, Bermudian rig, or Marconi rig is a configuration of mast and rigging for a type of sailboat and is the typical configuration for most modern sailboats. This configuration was developed in Bermuda in the 1600s; the term ''Marconi' ...

with a single mainsail with a surface area. The cockpit is 15 ½" deep, exceptionally deep for this size of sailboat, and can accommodate an adult up to 6 feet in height.

History

The boat was first designed by John Barnett of

Libertyville, Illinois Libertyville is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States, and a northern suburb of Chicago. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2020 census population was 20,579. It is part of Libertyville Township, Lake ...

in 1961, who was inspired to make a smaller version of the C Scow, a popular sailing skiff. With the help of Dr. Robert Chamberlain, Mike Daskilakis, and Jim Miller the class was officially launched in 1962. The first Butterfly nationals was held at Grand Rapids Yacht Club in 1962, after which the boat was declared the official training boat of the Western Michigan Yachting Association. Barnett quickly moved production to Kenosha, Wisconsin where it stayed until he sold the company in 1982 to Hedlund Marine in Willmette, Illinois, but production was kept in Wisconsin. In 2007, Hedlund Marine sold production to Windward Boatworks of Princeton, Wisconsin.

Fleets

* Crystal Lake Yacht Club * Glen Lake Yacht Club * Grand Rapids Yacht Club * Leland Yacht Club * Long Lake Yacht Club *

Missouri Yacht Club Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas to th ...

Muskegon Yacht Club Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expa ...

Powers Lake Yacht Club
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Sail Dubay A sail is a tensile structure—which is made from fabric or other membrane materials—that uses wind power to propel sailing craft, including sailing ships, sailboats, windsurfers, ice boats, and even sail-powered land vehicles. Sails ma ...

Camp Michigania Yacht Club Camp may refer to: Outdoor accommodation and recreation * Campsite or campground, a recreational outdoor sleeping and eating site * a temporary settlement for nomads * Camp, a term used in New England, Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to desc ...

Spring Lake Yacht Club Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a h ...

Torch Lake Yacht Club A torch is a stick with combustible material at one end, which is ignited and used as a light source. Torches have been used throughout history, and are still used in processions, symbolic and religious events, and in juggling entertainment. I ...

Union Sailing Club Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** '' ...

White Lake Yacht Club White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. W ...

White Rock Boat Club White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

Sources

National Butterfly Association
boat specifications and class history

External links

* {{Sailing Dinghies and Skiffs Dinghies 1960s sailboat type designs Scows