Wayfarer (dinghy)

Wayfarer
Walloping Window Blind
Development
DesignerIan Proctor
DesignOne-Design
Boat
Crew2
Draft.203 m (8.0 in)
1.169 m (3 ft 10.0 in)
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionGRP with wood trim
Cold moulded plywood
Composite (Wood/GRP)
Hull weight169 kg (373 lb)
LOA4.827 m (15.84 ft)
Beam1.855 m (6 ft 1.0 in)
Rig
Rig typeFractional Bermuda or Marconi rig
Mast length6.78 m (22.2 ft)
Sails
Mainsail area8.83 m2 (95.0 sq ft)
Jib/genoa area2.78 m2 (29.9 sq ft)
Spinnaker area13.5 m2 (145 sq ft)
Racing
D-PN91.6[1]
RYA PN1109[2]

The Wayfarer is a wooden or fibreglass hulled fractional Bermuda rigged sailing dinghy of great versatility; it can be used for short 'day boat' trips, for longer cruises and for racing. Over 11,000 have been produced as of 2016.[3]

The boat is 15 feet 10 inches (4.83 m) long, and broad and deep enough for three adults to comfortably sail for several hours. Longer trips are undertaken by enthusiasts, notably Frank Dye who sailed W48 'Wanderer' from Scotland to Iceland and Norway, crossing the North Sea twice.[4][5] The Wayfarer's size, stability and seaworthiness have made it popular with sailing schools, and led it to be used as a family boat in a wide variety of locations.

Not only a versatile cruising dinghy, Wayfarers are also raced with a Portsmouth Number of 1105. As of 2013, it has a Portsmouth Yardstick rating of 91.6.[6]

From the original wooden design by Ian Proctor in 1957[7] many subsequent versions of the Wayfarer have been produced.[8] There is also a double-hulled Canadian clone, known as the CL 16, featuring a simplified rig[A] but otherwise identical. Genuine Wayfarers can be identified by the "W" symbol on their sails.[B]

The sail plan consists of a Bermuda rig with a main, jib, and symmetrical spinnaker. The boat uses a retractable centreboard. An optional asymmetric spinnaker and spinnaker chute is available; also available is a "sail patch" which provides flotation for the mast in the event of a capsize (and particularly to prevent mast inversion – Turtling).[C]

One-design racing is active and competitive — regionally, nationally and internationally.[9]

  1. ^ "Centerboard Classes". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Portsmouth Number List 2024". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Wayfarer DInghy | National Maritime Museum Cornwall". NMMC. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  4. ^ Dye, Frank; Dye, Margaret (1977). Ocean-crossing wayfarer: to Iceland and Norway in an open boat [in a 16ft Open Dinghy]. Newton Abbott North Pomfret, Vt: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-7371-4.
  5. ^ "Frank Dye". The Telegraph. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Portsmouth Yardstick — current tables". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  7. ^ Smith, Mike (2004). "Mike's Wooden Wayfarer Restoration Manual" (PDF). Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  8. ^ "U.K. Wayfarer Association". Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  9. ^ Kattmergan, Jon; Schönborn, Al; Hughes, Derwyn; McNamara, Mike. Wayfarer Racing: rig for racing; racing techniques; strategy and tactics (PDF). UKWA Wayfarer; Wayfarer Institute of Technology. Retrieved 8 November 2013.


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