About

A Brief History of the Rainbow Scow

The Rainbow was born in 1940, designed by R.J. Hill, a passionate yachtsman from Perth, Western Australia. Inspired by the American Moth class, Hill developed a 12-foot skimmer hull and built the first prototype, which he named Iona. To the surprise of many, Iona easily outpaced the top 12-footers in Perth—sparking immediate interest among local sailors.

Impressed by the design's speed and simplicity, local yachtsmen began building their own versions from Hill’s plans. Thus, the Rainbow class was born.

By the 1960s, the Rainbow had spread throughout Australia's southern states and became the most popular small-boat class in Tasmania and South Australia. Victoria followed closely, especially through the 1960s and ’70s. National championships were held annually in early January, with teams of six from each state—each including at least one junior sailor under 18. Titles for both junior and senior divisions were awarded across five heats using the Olympic points system. A B division was later introduced to encourage wider participation and provide a more relaxed racing format.

Affordable, fast, and fun to sail, Rainbows offered young sailors a gateway into competitive sailing. For around $300, they could build their own high-performance dinghy—a key reason so many successful Australian yachtsmen began their careers in the class.

The Rainbow was overseen by the National Rainbow Council, with affiliated clubs across Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania.

Though the rise of fiberglass boats led to a decline in numbers, the Rainbow remains a beloved part of Australia’s sailing heritage. Today, Rainbow dinghies are regular participants in classic dinghy regattas, celebrating a class that helped shape generations of sailors.