Wayfarer (dinghy)
Encyclopedia
The Wayfarer is a wooden or fibreglass hulled Bermuda rig
ged sailing dinghy, often used for short sailing trips as a 'day boat'. The boat is 15 feet 10 inches (4.82 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
. Wayfarers' size and stability have made them popular with sailing schools.
Not only a versatile cruising dinghy, Wayfarers are also raced with a Portsmouth Number
of 1101. Although best suited to larger stretches of water and stronger winds, their stability and seaworthiness has led them to be used as family boats in a wide variety of locations.
From the original design by Ian Proctor
in 1957, many subsequent versions of the Wayfarer have been produced http://www.wayfarer.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=55&Itemid=176. There is also a double-hulled Canadian clone, known as the CL 16
. Genuine Wayfarers can be identified by the "W" symbol on their sails.
. Frank Dye's famous W48 Wanderer was of course of this type, a testament to its robust construction. The boat can be seen at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall
in Falmouth
. Other boats of this model are still racing after 50 years, and new ones can still be purchased today (on a custom basis) from Porter Brothers. The hull is of a 'three plank' construction, that is with two chines. This provides a good compromise between stability and ease of construction. Both forward and aft buoyancy compartments are fitted with large watertight hatches and this provides ample stowage space for cruising. The large floor space with flat floorboards and good clearance under thwart
makes the Mark I a comfortable boat for two people to sleep in, when a boom-tent is erected for shelter. The mast is held in a tabernacle
, which when rigged with a tackle on the forestay allows the mast to be lowered to pass beneath bridges. This feature was retained in subsequent models, as was the hull shape.
version was introduced in 1965 and was similar in layout to the wooden boat. Over two thousand copies of this model were made and many are still in use through the world. In contrast to other GRP models, this version has a large hatch to the forward buoyancy compartment useful for stowage when cruising, and a forward bulkhead extending right up to the foredeck level. The Mark I has no side buoyancy, and consequently does not suffer from a tendency to invert when capsized that plagued later models. The Mark I was also available as a composite model with a
GRP hull and bulkheads but plywood fore- and side-decks.
chute, but class regulations of the time did not allow that. The forward compartment had a small circular inspection hatch thus removing much of the useful dry stowage space. Side buoyancy compartments gave this model a tendency to invert, and those owned by sailing schools soon sported socks filled with polystyrene to provide a righting moment when capsized. Reduced clearance under the thwart made this boat uncomfortable to sleep in.
A version with a self draining cockpit, the Mark II SD, was introduced in 1986. This was especially suitable for boats kept on moorings. However the buoyancy sealed in the floor increases the inverting tendency, and when righted after a capsize the trapped water causes instability. To help overcome this drain tubes through the aft tank were later introduced.
alloy
. Until the MkIV this was the only version with an asymmetric spinnaker, although it can not be used in class races [except in the UK]. It has proved successful in both racing and cruising, including a North Sea
crossing 1998.
Other
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...
ged sailing dinghy, often used for short sailing trips as a 'day boat'. The boat is 15 feet 10 inches (4.82 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
Frank Dye
Frank Dye was a sailor who, in two separate voyages, sailed a Wayfarer class dinghy from the United Kingdom to Iceland and Norway. An account of this was written by Frank and his wife Margaret, published in 1977 as Ocean Crossing Wayfarer...
who sailed W48 'Wanderer' from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. Wayfarers' size and stability have made them popular with sailing schools.
Not only a versatile cruising dinghy, Wayfarers are also raced with a Portsmouth Number
Portsmouth yardstick
The Portsmouth Yardstick or Portsmouth handicap scheme is a system of handicapping used primarily in small-boat yacht racing.The handicap is applied to the time taken to sail any course, and the corrected time can be used to compare widely different sailboats on even terms. Portsmouth Numbers are...
of 1101. Although best suited to larger stretches of water and stronger winds, their stability and seaworthiness has led them to be used as family boats in a wide variety of locations.
From the original design by Ian Proctor
Ian Proctor
Ian Douglas Ben Proctor, FRSA, known as Ian Proctor, was a prolific designer of both sailing dinghies and cruisers...
in 1957, many subsequent versions of the Wayfarer have been produced http://www.wayfarer.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=55&Itemid=176. There is also a double-hulled Canadian clone, known as the CL 16
CL 16
The CL 16 is a British designed 16' sailboat first built in the 1950s. It is essentially the same design as the Wayfarer dinghy, with the addition of a double-hull. It continues to be produced by a Canadian company near Fort Erie, on Lake Ontario.The CL 16 is an open cockpit boat that is extremely...
. Genuine Wayfarers can be identified by the "W" symbol on their sails.
Mark I Wood
This was the original wooden Wayfarer designed for construction by both amateur and licensed builders, with a hull and deck made from plywoodPlywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
. Frank Dye's famous W48 Wanderer was of course of this type, a testament to its robust construction. The boat can be seen at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall
National Maritime Museum Cornwall
The National Maritime Museum Cornwall is located in a harbourside building at Falmouth in Cornwall. The building was designed by architect M. J...
in Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
. Other boats of this model are still racing after 50 years, and new ones can still be purchased today (on a custom basis) from Porter Brothers. The hull is of a 'three plank' construction, that is with two chines. This provides a good compromise between stability and ease of construction. Both forward and aft buoyancy compartments are fitted with large watertight hatches and this provides ample stowage space for cruising. The large floor space with flat floorboards and good clearance under thwart
Thwart
A thwart is a strut placed crosswise in a ship or boat, to brace it crosswise.In rowboats it can also serve as a seat for a rower....
makes the Mark I a comfortable boat for two people to sleep in, when a boom-tent is erected for shelter. The mast is held in a tabernacle
Tabernacle (disambiguation)
The Tabernacle most commonly refers to the Jewish Tabernacle , which was a movable tent and worship facility used by the Israelites for the worship of Yahweh as recorded in the Book of Exodus...
, which when rigged with a tackle on the forestay allows the mast to be lowered to pass beneath bridges. This feature was retained in subsequent models, as was the hull shape.
Mark I GRP
A Glass Reinforced PlasticFiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
version was introduced in 1965 and was similar in layout to the wooden boat. Over two thousand copies of this model were made and many are still in use through the world. In contrast to other GRP models, this version has a large hatch to the forward buoyancy compartment useful for stowage when cruising, and a forward bulkhead extending right up to the foredeck level. The Mark I has no side buoyancy, and consequently does not suffer from a tendency to invert when capsized that plagued later models. The Mark I was also available as a composite model with a
GRP hull and bulkheads but plywood fore- and side-decks.
Mark II GRP
The Mark II was introduced in 1974 supposedly as an improvement. The front and rear buoyancy tanks were built into the hull before bonding on the deck. The forward buoyancy compartment has a gap above it and under the foredeck. This would have been useful for a spinnakerSpinnaker
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...
chute, but class regulations of the time did not allow that. The forward compartment had a small circular inspection hatch thus removing much of the useful dry stowage space. Side buoyancy compartments gave this model a tendency to invert, and those owned by sailing schools soon sported socks filled with polystyrene to provide a righting moment when capsized. Reduced clearance under the thwart made this boat uncomfortable to sleep in.
A version with a self draining cockpit, the Mark II SD, was introduced in 1986. This was especially suitable for boats kept on moorings. However the buoyancy sealed in the floor increases the inverting tendency, and when righted after a capsize the trapped water causes instability. To help overcome this drain tubes through the aft tank were later introduced.
Mark 1A
This GRP model was introduced in 1987, combining the structural improvements of the Mark II with greater storage space in the bow. A horizontal bulkhead divides the bow buoyancy tank, and both the upper and lower sections have large access hatches creating secure stowage spaces.Wayfarer Plus S
First produced in 1991 the Wayfarer Plus S was made with a sandwich construction for the hull and chines. This produced a boat that could compete with the original wooden boats in stiffness and weight, while having the maintenance advantages of GRP. The forward tank has a full-height bulkhead like the Mark I. The cruising version has a large hatch in the bulkhead to allow the tank to be used for stowage.Wayfarer World
The Wayfarer World was introduced in 1997 and was designed as a collaboration between Ian Proctor and his son Keith. Made in GRP with no woodwork it has a removable aft storage tank, a self draining cockpit, and a spinnaker chute. The rudder stock is of aluminiumAluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
. Until the MkIV this was the only version with an asymmetric spinnaker, although it can not be used in class races [except in the UK]. It has proved successful in both racing and cruising, including a North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
crossing 1998.
Wayfarer World S Type
The Wayfarer World S Type is generally similar to the Wayfarer World but is made using the same foam sandwich construction as the Wayfarer Plus S.Mark III (North America only)
Built by Abbutt Boats in Canada, production stopped after a fire in 2006.Mark IV (Hartley Wayfarer)
Introduced in 2007 the MkIV was designed by Phil Morrison. The design is intended to be more modern and spacious inside, and easier to right and drain after a capsize. This version was also designed to be "as fast as but no faster than the fastest" of the older Wayfarers.Books
- Frank Dye, Ocean-crossing Wayfarer, David and Charles (1977), ISBN 0-7153-7371-4.
- Lee Hughes, The Biggest Boat I Could Afford, Random House NZ (2004), ISBN 1-8694-1608-2
External links
Official- Canadian Wayfarer Association
- Netherlands Wayfarer Class Association
- Scandinavian Wayfarer Class Association
- United Kingdom Wayfarer Class Association
- United States Wayfarer Association
- Wayfarer International Committee
Other