The Ensign  is the largest class of full keel boats in North America. It was designed by Carl Alberg and built by Pearson Yachts of Portsmouth, Rhode Island who manufactured nearly 1800 boats from 1962 through 1983. Its popularity, rather than declining with the advent of very high performance boats, has been on a  upswing. 

Four Regional Championships, a Midwinter Championship and a National Championship Regatta are held each year.

The Ensign is 22 and 1/2 feet long, weighs about 3,000 pounds, has a draft of 3 feet and is best raced with a crew of four. It has no life lines and therefore can be sailed with  dingy tactics such as hiking and roll tacking.