West Solent One Design

Designed - H G May & H. Jacobs

Built - Berthon Boatyard, Lymington 1923 - 1933

LOA 34’ 6” LWL 24’ 0” Beam 7’ 6” Draft 5’ 1 1/2"

Disp 4.4 tons. Sail Area 530 sq ft.

Elegant thoroughbred yachts, originally built as the "W Boats" as one of the first production cruiser racers, and adopted by a number of yacht clubs around the coast including Lymington, Torbay and Burnham. A total of 32 boats were originally built for the U.K. market. A further five were built and exported fo Argentina as the Los Indios Class, and one was built under licence in Bombay, India. They participated as a class in a number of regattas around the coast until the 50's whilst their distinctive classical lines sometimes earned them the nickname of "the little J-Class"

A resurgence in interest in the class in the 90s and early 00s, particularly around the East Coast, resulted in a number of boats being sympathetically restored to the early one design rules whilst using modern boatbuilding techniques to solve some of the fundamental structural problems of the original boats. Others are currently under restoration or awaiting new owners seeking projects. In 2010 the lovely new "Winnie Marie" W-39 was launched.

Something of a purist's boat with a big rig, running backstays and normally engineless, they offer a superb sailing experience in all conditions, and gather appreciative glances and comment as one of the most beautiful boats around, in whatever company. Whilst the current fleet is a bit scattered, a number regularly participate in regattas and local races, both in classic events or racing to IRC or local handicap amongst modern raceboats where, given the right conditions, they can carry away the silverware. Highlights of the season are the Levington Classic Regatta in June and Mersea Week in August.

If you have any information you think should be included please contact us.

LATEST NEWS

For news about a particular boat, please look at the : The W Boats page. Stop press! Ross Wey (previously Perkins) of West Mersea looked around the 2 hulls in Little Braxted (W4 and W1) and agreed to buy the hull of Sapphire W4 from Scot Yeates. Ross who previously restored and sailed 6-Metre 'Aste IV' now looks after a boatyard in West Mersea and transports boats. He has transported Sapphire to West Mersea and plans to have her sailing again in 2013 by doing what is necessary.	There are rumours of progress in Maldon on W-3 Squirrel, and perhaps even on W-19 Erin after Jim Dines completes the task of re-rigging Cutty Sark. Janetta' W17 will not now be going to Levington, she will remain in Little Braxted, Essex and is looking for a new owner. She is a hull and keel only.	RACING PROGRAMME. The season opens with the SYH Classic Regatta at Levington on 16/17th June. For further dates see the Racing section.
NEW EDITOR. We are delighted that Martine Murdoch, part owner of Vivacious W-22, has volunteered to update and run the website. You will notice many new features, especially the photo library, which she is developing to include an extensive archive of pictures of the boats including shots going back to the 1920s.