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The Heron is a two person dinghy that is sailed in all states of Australia. The Heron was designed in the early 1950s by Jack Holt in the UK. The class was introduced to Australia in the late 1950s and has flourished in its new home.
The Heron offers safe entry level sailing for novices but also provides an ongoing challenge for experienced sailors who are seeking to optimise performance.
The Heron has a long and proud history of family involvement. Many of the past class national championships have been won by parent/child crew combinations. A number of sailors who crewed in the Heron in the past have returned to the class with their own children to share the family sailing experience.
The Heron was designed with a two piece (mast/gaff) gunter rig. A one piece (or Bermudan) mast has been introduced in recent years that gives similar performance. Both rigs can be used in competitive sailing with no performance difference. A larger headsail (genoa) has also been introduced for use by crews with a combined weight of 135 kgs or more. Use of this sail has allowed couples to sail together and compete on an even footing with lighter crews.
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