About the International B14 Skiff
What is it?
The B14 is a two-person skiff designed in Sydney by Australian 18 Foot Skiff legend Julian Bethwaite in 1986. The B14 shares many characteristics with the Australian 18 Footers and Julian’s most famous design, the Olympic 49er class, ensuring high speed, fast action and competitive racing.
The B14 is officially recognised by World Sailing as an International class, with boats active in the UK, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
The B14 is the world’s fastest two-person hiking skiff, unrivalled for over 30 years!
Key Stats:
Length: 4.24m / Width: 3.80m / Upwind sail area: 17.2 m2 / Downwind sail area: 46.4 m2 / Hull weight: 64 kgs / Top speed ~20 knots +
The inclusive skiff
The B14 is an inclusive, high-performance skiff class attracting diverse ages, sizes, and genders, demonstrated at the 2025 pre-worlds and world championships where 50% of teams were mixed gender, multiple mixed and female-helmed teams placed in the top ten, and competitors ranged from 15 to 71 years old with combined crew ages between 33 and 120.
Class history
Launched in Australia in 1987, the B14 class has become a global sailing phenomenon, known for its fast, innovative two-person dinghy and strong international community.
World Championships rotate between hemispheres every ~18 months, with iconic venues like Weymouth, Lake Garda, Hobart, and Sydney hosting fiercely contested events.
The ongoing rivalry between Australian and UK crews fuels exciting, high-level racing and attracts record fleets. In 2025, the B14 Worlds returned to Sydney Harbour, celebrating the class’s rich history and its commitment to accessible, exhilarating competition for sailors around the world.