History of Sailing and Dinghy Racing Historical events suggest that water has always presented man with a challenge, whether to be used, contain or cross over.
Exploration and the search for new lands and possessions needed a means of transport, he therefore saw that moving water in rivers and seas could be utilized. The first step to sail, would have been a progression from the use of paddles and sculling, a method of violently moving the rudder from side to side. A ship with sails appears on an Egyptian vase dated 3,200-2,900 BC but even then sail was probably used for thousands of years before this. The Romans and Vikings used sail as an auxiliary means of propulsion in conjunction with paddles and oars. Sailing ships were frequently used for marine battles and the big square-rigged battle ships heavily laden with cannons were developed.  Early forms of racing sailing ships and sailboats came from trading competition, where it was important for traders to get to markets or destinations before the other, therefore attracting better prices and selling goods ahead of their competition etc.
One example of such a ship is The Cutty Sark, she was set many challenges, only to out- perform her rivals on many occasions. Recreational sailing derived from refinements of this and developing the skills necessary to gain maximum speed from stronger and shifting winds. For merchant shipping steam power increasingly took over from sail, at this time yachting became fashionable, and racing boats were designed as smaller versions of some of the trading ships of the bygone age.  The most famous example of early leisure racing activity is the America’s Cup, which started in 1851 and in 1857 started racing for a 100-guinea vase as a prize.
Many new and design features to enhance the speed and effectiveness of the yachts entered into the Americas Cup became a benchmark and were incorporated into yachts throughout the world. The Olympic Yachting event started at the 1896 Games in Greece. As time passed numerous designers satisfied the demand for smaller, faster one or two man boats hence, present day sailing dinghies appeared. These dinghies are used throughout the world for championship events, national events and of course traditional Sunday leisure. | 
