The Footy is a very small (usually) radio-control sailboat whose length is a mere 12 inches (30.5 cm). The hull can be made from a fiberglass mold or simply with thin sheets of plywood fitted together. Two servos are used, one to control the sail and one for the rudder. History The plans were reprinted in "Model Boats" magazine in 1975 and was perhaps the influence for the well-known British model yacht designer Roger Stollery to produce his "Choppa" design for his son Peter shortly after. In 1981 Brett McCormack of New Zealand saw a picture of "Choppa" in "Model Boats" magazine and was inspired to design a 12-inch yacht for a school technical drawing project. Much later, in 1996, he actually built the design as a free-sailing model for his 2-year-old son. In 2000 Richard Web came up with the idea of the Footy class as a radio-controlled yacht to sail on the pool at Weymouth Sailing Week. The class spread around the world with the "Ancient Mariners" in Auckland, New Zealand, building and racing scale type Footys. In 2001 Brett McCormack redesigned his 12-inch model and adapted it to radio control – the famous Bobabout design. Over the next four years the class continued to grow, with many boats being built from various plans and kits. Racing began at a number of UK clubs and in the far south of New Zealand. In 2005 the British Model Yachting Association decided to formally adopt the Footy class. An International team prepared a new "Box" rule to bring together the various versions across the world. All the original founders and supporters of 12-inch yachts were given a say in the rule. In 2006 the Footy became an officially sanctioned Development Class of the American Model Yachting Association. Serious international racing is scheduled to begin in 2007 and the future of the class seems assured. The boats Given the open nature of the Footy rule, the boats themselves come in many flavours ranging from red-clawed racing machines to what are unashamedly character boats. Both of these manage to coexist within the same structure and Footy "community". A high proportion of older designs are hard-chine boats made from flat panels of balsa or ply, but a great many newer ones are round-bottomed made from fibreglass or even carbon fibre. Because of the weight of the older AM radio gear commonly used, Footys