Leader

Description

The Leader (often called the Leader Dinghy or Leader two-man dinghy) is a classic British two-person (or family) racing/cruising centerboard dinghy designed in the early 1960s by Phil Morrison (or associated with early British designers; exact attribution varies slightly in sources). First unveiled at the 1962 London Boat Show, it gained quick popularity with over 300 sold by 1966 and remains active today through the Leader Class Owner's Association (leaderdinghy.org.uk) in the UK. It's a versatile fractional sloop with a simple, forgiving rig, good stability for its size, room for two adults (or more for daysailing/light cruising), and options for spinnaker in racing. Built in fiberglass (GRP) by various builders over the years (e.g., early production in the UK), it's lightweight enough for car-topping or easy trailering/launching, excels in moderate winds for club racing, training, or relaxed family outings, and supports capsize recovery and reefing for safer adventures. It's not a high-volume production boat like the Laser series but has a dedicated following for its balanced performance, dry ride, and adaptability (can be sailed singlehanded in lighter air).