The sharpie was designed in Germany by the Kroger brothers in 1931 and was the winner of a competition run by the German Sailing Federation for a sailing dinghy which could be built in one’s own building. It quickly became established as a powerful racing dinghy and attracted keen sailors, particularly in Germany, Holland and the UK. In it’s heyday it was selected as the 2-man dinghy for the 1956 Olympic Games held in Australia.
Today the boat retains all the original characteristics of the class. The hull and spars are unchanged though the sail area has increased in size over the years from the original 12 square metres to nearer 16 square metres today. The sails have become quite technical with a sliding gaff rig and a mainsail controlled by multiple cunninghams and other adjusters. The sharpie continues to attract a high calibre of competitor and is extremely rewarding to sail, particularly upwind where its narrow beam and long length help it to slice to windward. In a blow the sharpie planes readily and can be very exciting when sailing at sea due to its low freeboard.