The Albacore is a 4.57 m (15 ft) two-person planing dinghy with fractional sloop rig, for competitive racing and lake and near-inshore day sailing. Hulls are made of either wood or fiberglass. The basic shape was developed in 1954 from an Uffa Fox design, the Swordfish. Recent boats retain the same classic dimensions, and use modern materials and modern control systems.
Albacore (dinghy)
An Albacore dinghy planing
Albacore racing fleet rounding the windward mark
Lowe and Dollery on Albacore 1
Planing is the mode of operation for a waterborne craft in which its weight is predominantly supported by hydrodynamic lift, rather than hydrostatic lift (buoyancy).
A Contender dinghy planing on a broad reach. Note the typical way the bow lifts up while the stern skims over the water.
Royal Navy World War II motor torpedo boat planing at speed on calm water showing its hard chine hull - note how most of the forepart of the boat is out of the water
Albacore dinghy planing