International FJ

The International FJ is a Dutch sailboat that was designed by Uus Van Essen and Conrad Gülcher as a trainer and one design racer, first built in 1956.

The boat was initially called the Flying Dutchman Junior (after the Flying Dutchman one design racer), as it was designed as a trainer for that Olympic sailing class boat. It was later called the Flying Junior. In 1980 the name was again officially changed to the International FJ.

The design became a World Sailing accepted International class in 1972-73.

Production
The design has been built by a large number of companies including Grampian Marine and Paceship Yachts in Canada, Chantier Naval Costantini in France, Alpa Yachts, Centro Nautico Adriatico, Comar Yachts, Galetti and Nautivela in Italy, Van Doesburg, Dusseldorp, Van Wettum and Perry Lengton in The Nederlands, Advance Sailboat Corp, W. D. Schock Corp, Whitecap Composites and Zim Sailing in the United States.

The first Flying Junior was built by Pim van den Brink (Kolibri) in the Dutch village Stompwijk.

4,600 + boats have been built.

W. D. Schock Corp records indicate that they built 70 boats between 1968 and 1972.

It remains in production by Centro Nautico Adriatico, Zim Sailing and Whitecap Composites.

Design
The International FJ is a racing sailing dinghy, with early versions built from wood. Fiberglass was class-authorized in 1960.

The boat has a fractional sloop rig, a raked stem, a plumb transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and retractable centerboard. It displaces 165 lb.

The boat has a draft of 2.50 ft with the centerboard extended and 7 in with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water, beaching, ground transportation on a trailer or car roof.

For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker of 86 sqft. The boat is sailed with a crew of two sailors. A single trapeze is available for use by the crew.

The Club FJ is a version with heavier construction but similar dimensions produced by Zim Sailing. It displaces 220 lb and has a spinnaker of 80 sqft.

Whitecap Composites produces a lightened version of the design with improved ergonomics, marketed as the "Turbo FJ".

Operational history
The boat is supported by an active class club that organizes racing events, the International FJ Class.