Description

Dinghy for frostbite racing, displayed in MIT's main lobby in November, 1935, to drum up interest in sailing as a student activity.

Frostbite racing--winter sailing in small boats--emerged in the 1930s. The first races were held in dinghies used to shuttle people and goods to larger yachts, but purpose-built race boats, likely including this one, were quickly added to the fleet. This boat was successful in jumpstarting student interest that led to the creation of the MIT Nautical Association in the spring of 1936, but MIT decided to build a fleet of slightly larger, more learner-friendly dinghies for its inaugural fleet. These are now known as Tech Dinghies.