Mission of the Shields Class Sailing Association

The Shields Class Constitution states in Article II "Objects" that... "The objects of the Association are to promote Corinthian racing of Shields Class yachts and to maintain the one-design character thereof as sponsored by Cornelius Shields and designed by Sparkman & Stephens, Inc."

Shields, the obvious choice for one-design racing...

The facts speak for themselves. Shields are simple boats. All Shields go the same speed given basic preparation. The Shields learning curve is short and the racing is very tactical. Over 250 have been built and many are actively raced in fleets around the U.S. Shields are sloop-rigged and usually sailed by a crew of three to five. No hiking straps are allowed, keeping athletic demands on the crew to a minimum. The boats live in the water on moorings or in slips. There is no time-consuming dry-sailing; between races the boats are always ready for a fun-loving day sail. Shields require very little maintenance. There is no arms race in the Shields Class. The Class limits sail purchases to one sail per year. The Shields enjoys a strong National Association that organizes annual championship regattas. There are active fleets welcoming sailors across the country, including Larchmont NY, Newport RI, Marion MA, Edgartown MA, Chicago IL, Oxford MD, Mystic CT, Greenwich CT and Monterey CA.

And....last but not least, the Shields are classic, pretty boats, admired by all...

Length overall30 feet, 2-1/2 inches
Waterline length20 feet
Beam6 feet, 5-1/4 inches
Draft4 feet, 9 inches
Displacement4,600 lbs. (excluding sails, spars, rigging)
Keel3,080 lbs.

The Shields Class Sailing Association provides and maintains the following for Shields owners and members:

Please join the Association through your local fleet or for those not part of a fleet complete the membership form. Membership is mandatory for participation in sanctioned Shields racing including the National Championship.

Shields Outline