CYC International Member Visits Home of IODs

On a June 2009 visit to Fredrikstad, Norway,  CYC International Member Adrian Rayson visited the old workyard of Bjarne Aas, designer of the International One Design, where he took this photo.  "It was a delightful place with all sorts of lovely craft," writes Adrian, "including IODs, six metres, and the like swinging gently on buoys in the river and much traditional wooden boat building going on all round." 

In 1936 Cornelius Shields commissioned Bjarne Aas to produce a one-design version of a sloop he had seen in Bermuda.  The result was a beautiful reminder of yachting's "golden age" with the traditional meter-boat's long overhangs, graceful sheer, deep, narrow hull, and lofty rig.  The cost of an IOD in 1936 was $2,670. Sails, spars, running rigging, cradle, insurance, and shipping charges from Norway were included in the price.

With the backing of the enthusiastic Shields, the boat was quickly adopted by the top racers on Long Island Sound. The first of the initial order of 25 yachts was delivered at City Island, New York in December 1936. "I finally arranged to sail her the week after Christmas...the first time anyone had sailed an International,” recalled Shields, many years later. “I don't think I've ever had a more joyous day on the water. The wind was from the northeast, light in the morning and then stronger at mid-day, so we had a chance to try her out under a variety of conditions. The boat was a delight to handle, and balanced perfectly. I felt great satisfaction at this -- the planning and hope and care hadn't been in vain."

The Internationals quickly spread. In 1938 fleets were established in Marblehead, Massachusetts and Northeast Harbor, Maine, followed by fleets in Norway and Cowes. During the war, legend says that Aas buried the construction jigs to protect them during the Nazi occupation. After the liberation of Norway, construction resumed at Fredrikstad with boats going to San Francisco, Sweden, France, Oyster Bay, and Cowes. Fiberglass construction was introduced in the 1960s with great care taken by the class to ensure that the wood and glass yachts could race on an equal basis.

Today, there are ten fleets racing around the world--in Bermuda, Norway, the UK, Sweden, Maine, New York, California, and in Massachusetts (two fleets--Marblehead and Nantucket).   There are only two authorized builders of boats for this class: Tjorns Yacht Service, in Sweden, and C.W.Hood Yachts, in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Recently, IODs were the first class awarded International Classic Yacht status by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF)