I bought my own FD in January of 2001: Flying Dutchman USA-1415, Hull  #10095, built by Mader of Germany in 1979, White Kevlar/glass hull with mahogany deck.

Bill Hamilton, a fellow FD sailor at the club, and I drove out to Galway Lake to look at the boat in early January. We were amazed by the boat's appearance and condition for its age, the current owner took incredible care of this babe. So here is the history of the boat as we know it and understand it. Over the past 10 years the boat has been owned by two local gentlemen. The original owner was a German who purchased the boat and campaigned it in Europe in the late 70's early 80's. The boat was brought to the states by a lawyer sometime in the mid 80's where she was stored in a garage in Burnt Hills, NY. From what we know, the boat was lightly used. Several ill failed attempts to sell her in the 80's occurred. (Bill happen to be one of these guys) The boat remained in a garage for several more years until she was eventually sold to Dave Greenwood. Dave has been sailing the boat for the past nine years on Galway Lake. Galway Lake had a local FD fleet, however, over the years, one by one, these boats have disappeared. Two came to Saratoga Lake, and I will now bring a third. I will be the 4th owner of this boat as she begins her 22nd year of life.

When Bill and I looked at the boat two things amazed us. The first being the overall condition: nothing short of perfection for a boat of this age. The deck is in great shape, hull nearly perfect. Second, the boat has all the modern rigging features, adjustable forestay, shrouds, lowers, centerboard and current spinnaker pole configuration. Furthermore the boat is just nice to look at.  Other interesting features are the 1 1/2 bottom hull configuration. Although I would have preferred a double hull (similar to 49er's and newer FD's) this boat has a full double bottom where the crew sits, but from the main sheet traveler aft the bottom of the hull is exposed. The boat was advertised as having a fiberglass hull, however Bill dug up some information and soon discovered that the boat is built out of Kevlar. This makes sense because the boat is incredibly fair and stiff. We are really excited about the boat as we now have a new toy, something to take the kids out in, and to cruise around the lake in. Chris Reichart has signed on to be my primary crew for racing and we are going to put together our itinerary this spring. What makes this so great is I will soon be in the passing lane again on the race course! See ya on the water!

          -Matt Reichart

          FD USA 1415