In the early 1960s the International Blue Jay Class Association voted to allow construction from fiberglass, although some boats, particularly amateur-built ones, have continued to be built from wood.
[1][3][4] The design has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars, a raked stem, a vertical transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a retractable centerboard.
[1][3][4] The boat has a draft of 3.67 ft (1.12 m) with the centerboard extended and 6 in (15 cm) with it retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.
[1] More than 140 racing fleets were reported to have been formed by the mid-1990s, with concentrations in Florida and the Great Lakes, San Francisco and Long Island Sound.
In line with the original design intent, class rules require anchors, PFDs, bailing equipment, and a paddle to be carried on board while racing.