Wanderers of the Wayfarer Dinghy || Sailing World
Classic one-design classes like the Wayfarer dinghy live on through the strength of their communities and their lifelong connections.
By James Heffernan
April 9, 2024
The author and his son, Paul, enjoy their time together sailing the waterways of North Carolina on the family’s Wayfarer dinghy. Lori George
While in pre-flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, I had a classmate with sailing expertise that he’d gained at the US Naval Academy. He was always happy to share his passion for sailing with our cadet class, whether leading a hands-on lesson in a Penguin dinghy or aboard a Luders 44 wooden yawl. It didn’t take me long to be as hooked as a sailor as I was an aviator.
Upon returning to Michigan after serving in the Navy for many years, I found myself searching for a suitable sailing dinghy—something simple yet familiar. My search led me to a used wooden 16-foot Wayfarer dinghy, originally built from a kit. At the time, I was simply buying a boat, never thinking that I was also buying a lifetime of memories and friends. The dealer who sold me the boat promptly put me in touch with the local Wayfarer fleet, which welcomed my family of five. We soon joined this fun-loving group of sailors for their races, cruises and, of course, regular social gatherings in Michigan and Ontario. The events were usually held at state or local parks with water access and camping facilities. While my sailing partner and I raced, someone from the fleet family watched over our young minnows as they played with others left ashore.
