Maury High School Regatta Flyer
The Moth Class


by Geo Loeb, Jr.


The following was printed in this year's Maury High School Regatta flyer. The article was originally printed in the 1964 Maury Regatta Program and was written by George Loeb, a former Maury Regatta participant, 1945 Moth class, and Co-chairman of the 1999 advisory committee. Many thanks to Joe Bousquet for finding and contributing this article.

The Moth Class
by Geo Loeb Jr.

In the spring of 1929, Capt. Joel Van Sant, of Atlantic City NJ had the idea of creating a small inexpensive class boat. From this first crude affair with flat decks evolved our modern Moth boat. The planking thickness has been reduced from 1/2" to 1/4" and plywood even thinner. The last class is not a one design class but is restricted. In this we mean that the boats may be any design or shape within certain limits. This allows the class to improve and develop a faster boat as improvements are made in lines. The class advances so fast that boats a year or two old are usually considered outmoded. The latest design is the round bilge type. The type instead of having a sharp corner at the chine has a radius or curve which creates smoother lines that contribute to the efficiency of the hull.

The worlds championship moth race was dropped during the war, but has been resumed and will be held in August in Atlantic City, NJ The most coveted prize, the Antonia Trophy will be raced for this race. Moth Boat Racing had declined the war years, but is picking up rapidly. Faster boats are being built and interest is increasing. Competition is getting keener and soon this class will be as widespread as any other. The boats are usually found off the east coast from Atlantic City to Florida. There are a few in Europe, but are scattered over a wide area. With the advent of plastic and molded hulls the whole picture might be changed. No one can tell what the future holds, but there is no doubt that the moth will always be the fastest sail boat in the world within the eleven feet.