| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Thomas B. Middleton (1900 design, James or Mamie Doyle) |
| Location | Dublin Bay, Ireland |
| Year | 1887 |
| Design | Open timber punt |
| Role | "A class of sailing punts, with centre boards, all built and rigged the same, so that an even harbour race may be had with a light rowing and generally useful boat." |
| Name | Water Wag |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 2 |
| Hull | |
| Construction | Larch or silver spruce planking |
| LOA | 13 feet 0 inches (3.96 m) |
| Beam | 4 feet 10 inches (1.47 m) |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | Boilerplate |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Sloop rig |
| Mast length | 13 feet (4.0 m) |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 75 square feet (7.0 m2) |
| Jib/genoa area | None |
| Spinnaker area | 60 square feet (5.6 m2) |
| Total sail area | 10.22 m2 (110.0 sq ft) |
The Water Wag is the oldest one-design dinghy in existence, having been devised in 1886 and formalised as a one-design class in Ireland in 1887. It was last modified in 1900. The class is still sailed to this day, notably with large Water Wag fleets racing during summer evenings from Dún Laoghaire harbour on Dublin Bay.[1] The Water Wag class is administered by the Water Wags club, based in Dún Laoghaire.
The Water Wag inspired similar one-design fleets around Ireland and subsequently around the world.