Penguin (dinghy)

The Penguin is an eight-foot, hard-chine, plywood sailboat. It is designed as a simple and inexpensive boat for amateur construction. Originally designed by Philip L. Rhodes in 1937, the Penguin was conceived as a one-design racing class, meant to be accessible to a broad range of sailors. Its simple construction and widespread popularity helped to establish its status as one of the earliest and most successful "build-it-yourself" sailing classes.

The Penguin's relatively small size makes it easy to transport and store. Its design features a flat bottom, contributing to its stability and ease of planing. The sail area is modest, making it manageable even in moderate winds, which also adds to its suitability for beginner sailors.

The Penguin Class Dinghy Racing Association (PCDRA) governs the class, maintaining the one-design rules and promoting racing events. The strict adherence to the one-design rules ensures that races are won based on sailing skill rather than differences in boat construction. While its popularity has waned somewhat in recent decades with the advent of more modern designs, the Penguin remains a classic design with a dedicated following in some sailing communities.