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Cherub (dinghy)
Encyclopedia
The Cherub is a 12 feet long, high performance, two-man Planing
dinghy
first designed in 1951 in New Zealand
by John Spencer
and built from plywood (d 1994). The class is a development (or "box rule") class, allowing for significant variation in design between different boats within the rule framework. The minimum hull weight was originally 112 lbs.The most popular design in the 1960s was the Spencer Mark 7 but this was superseded by hulls from a range of designers such as Bowler and Farr which emphasized a flatter hull shape which was wider aft. This aided down wind planning. About 1970 the jib was enlarged to an overlapping genoa about 25% bigger than the original jib.
The Cherub is Bermuda-rigged
with trapeze
(s), and has a crew of two.
Current Cherubs use an asymmetric spinnaker system but earlier boats used relatively large double luff spinnaker
s and used a notably long (9 foot) spinnaker pole
. Cherubs have a high power-to-weight ratio
and are very quick downwind in stronger breezes but can be slow upwind in lighter airs compared to longer boats.
Many Cherub sailors are in their late teens or early twenties but the flexibility of the class and the Cherub’s great sailing qualities mean that they are also attractive to many older sailors. Many women sail Cherubs, both as skippers and as crews. Husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, brother/sister and parent/child combinations of crew are common.In the 1960s and 1970s the Cherub was a popular sailing dinghy in New Zealand when they were mainly amateur built. Cherubs are nowadays mainly sailed in Australia and the UK, with some boats in other countries, notably France and small numbers in New Zealand.
The class differs in detail specification between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Northern boats use a second trapeze and permit appreciably larger sails then the Southern Hemisphere boats.
Planing (sailing)
Planing is the mode of operation for a waterborne craft in which its weight is predominantly supported by hydrodynamic lift, rather than hydrostatic lift .-History:...
dinghy
Dinghy
A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed for use as a ship's boat by a larger vessel. It is a loanword from either Bengali or Urdu. The term can also refer to small racing yachts or recreational open sailing boats. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor,...
first designed in 1951 in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
by John Spencer
John Spencer (boat designer)
John Spencer was a New Zealand boat designer.Spencer was born in Melbourne and moved to Ekatahuna in 1933. He spent most of his life in New Zealand....
and built from plywood (d 1994). The class is a development (or "box rule") class, allowing for significant variation in design between different boats within the rule framework. The minimum hull weight was originally 112 lbs.The most popular design in the 1960s was the Spencer Mark 7 but this was superseded by hulls from a range of designers such as Bowler and Farr which emphasized a flatter hull shape which was wider aft. This aided down wind planning. About 1970 the jib was enlarged to an overlapping genoa about 25% bigger than the original jib.
The Cherub is Bermuda-rigged
Bermuda rig
The term Bermuda rig refers to a configuration of mast and rigging for a type of sailboat and is also known as a Marconi rig; this is the typical configuration for most modern sailboats...
with trapeze
Trapeze (sailing)
In sailing, the trapeze refers to a wire that comes from a point high on the mast, usually where the shrouds are fixed, to a hook on the crew member's harness at approximately waist level...
(s), and has a crew of two.
Current Cherubs use an asymmetric spinnaker system but earlier boats used relatively large double luff spinnaker
Spinnaker
A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90°–180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. It is constructed of...
s and used a notably long (9 foot) spinnaker pole
Spinnaker pole
A spinnaker pole is a spar used in sailboats to help support and control a variety of headsails, particularly the spinnaker. However, it is also used with other sails, such as genoas and jibs, when sailing downwind with no spinnaker hoisted...
. Cherubs have a high power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
and are very quick downwind in stronger breezes but can be slow upwind in lighter airs compared to longer boats.
Many Cherub sailors are in their late teens or early twenties but the flexibility of the class and the Cherub’s great sailing qualities mean that they are also attractive to many older sailors. Many women sail Cherubs, both as skippers and as crews. Husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, brother/sister and parent/child combinations of crew are common.In the 1960s and 1970s the Cherub was a popular sailing dinghy in New Zealand when they were mainly amateur built. Cherubs are nowadays mainly sailed in Australia and the UK, with some boats in other countries, notably France and small numbers in New Zealand.
The class differs in detail specification between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Northern boats use a second trapeze and permit appreciably larger sails then the Southern Hemisphere boats.