Lake Merritt, Oakland, California

1. Paul Noll in El Toro

The El Toro was designed to serve as both a racing dinghy and a tender for ferrying people and material to and from a larger yacht. The hull measures only 8 feet (2.44 m) long and 3 feet 11 inches (1.19 m) at its widest point. The design features a thwart, or bench, provided for use when rowing. With a characteristic snub-nosed bow and high sides, the El Toro design is a sharp contrast to the low-profile, more sleek design of the Laser or many other newer boats. However, the stability of the El Toro makes it ideal for teaching sailing.