Edit this article

The comet is a two-person dinghy designed by C. Lowndes Johnson in the 1930s for racing on the Chesapeake Bay. It was conceived as a smaller version of the Star, but one well-suited to the shallow Chesapeake Bay and easier for younger sailors to use. The first Comet fleet was formed at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor, which still hosts an active fleet. The first national championship regatta was held in 1935. There are approximately a dozen active fleets remaining, most in the eastern U.S. Hard-chined and capable of planing in 10-to-15-knot winds, the Comet is a sloop that can have either a three-stay or, less commonly, an eight-stay (Star) rig. Comets are built in wood or, since 1960, fiberglass. For more information, read the Comet Wikipedia article.