About the Boat:
The 49er FX
THE HISTORY
The 49er was developed and designed in 1996 by Julian Bethwaite as an evolution of the International 14's and Aussie 18's. Adopting its name from its hull length of 4.99 meters (16ft 4in), the boat made its first Olympic appearance in Sydney 2000 as the men's high-performance double-handled dinghy. Continuing to grow in popularity, its derivative was developed for women's sailing.
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The 49er FX was created as the 49er's counterpart. Making its debut in the Olympic games in Rio 2016, the all-female crew boat has been an essential step in gender equality in sailing.
THE SYMBOLISM
The 49erFX is a thrilling skiff that has paved the way for women sailors to compete in a high-performance boat. With exceptional strength and stamina needed, the 49erFX has been a testament to the sailing world and sport that women, too, can be incredible athletes.
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Although the 49er FX uses the same hull as the 49er, the rig and sails have been developed to provide a corrected amount of power for the lighter female crews.
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THE BOAT
The 49er FX is a double-handed skiff and high-performance sailing dinghy, meaning the crew is comprised of two women and the boat goes very fast.
The two sailors work different roles, with the skipper steering the boat and making tactical decisions, while the crew focuses on boat balances and sail control. Being both equipped with their own trapeze, they are cantilevered over the water, with their feet on the wing of the boat, to balance their weight against the sails.