The Flying Ant was designed over 30 years ago in New Zealand by John Spencer, who also designed the Cherub.
It was not long before the class came across the Tasman and was being sailed on the east and west coasts of Australia by both girls and boys from 9 to 18 years of age.
In 1964 the first N.S.W. State Championship was held at Northbridge, proudly won by "Echo", skippered by Chris Wise from the Northbridge Sailing Club on Sydney's Middle Harbour.
The inaugural National Championship followed in 1967 and crowned the first Flying Ant National Champion, "Radiant" skippered by J. Brown and crewed by F. O'Rourke from N.S.W. This was the start of the Australian Flying Ant Skiff Association, which now comprises of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia and South Australia.
The Flying Ant has undergone many changes since those early days and the modern design is a "State of the Art" racing machine. The Flying Ant is the ideal boat for juniors coming out of Sabots and Manly Juniors who want to sail a fast exciting planing skiff with a single trapeze and self draining cockpit.