BoatsYachting World Dayboat

Yachting World Dayboat

Fractional Sloop · Centerboard Dinghy · First built 1949

A 1949 fractional sloop commissioned by Yachting World, still actively raced in one-design fleets across the UK

Designed by G OBrien Kennedy & George O'Brien Kennedy, built by Chris Somner Dinghy Services.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.73 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 204 kg of hull, so roughly 800 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 204 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.25 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 5 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 5
CoastalBluewater

At 2.96 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.96
LightHeavy

79 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 79
EasygoingPowered-up

36.0 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 36.0

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Heavier than ~87% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~87% of boats her size on file

Compared with 372 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
36.0
Displacement / length
78.6
Comfort ratio
5.0
Capsize screening
2.96
Hull speed
5.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
277
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Wood
Production
Years built
First built 1949
Units built
700
Designer
G OBrien Kennedy, George O'Brien Kennedy
Builder
Chris Somner Dinghy Services

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Aubin (Chantier Aubin) Snipe4.72 mSame hull family0.5 m longerA legendary William F. Crosby-designed fractional dinghy that remains one of the world's most active racing classes
O'Day Daysailer5.11 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA 1956 centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio that remains in production today
LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull family0.6 m longerAn Olympic-class high-performance skiff featuring a massive sail-area-to-displacement ratio for elite racing
MacKay Boats Ltd. 49erfx4.88 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA high-performance skiff utilizing the 49er hull with a downsized rig specifically optimized for lighter crews
Fairey Marine Firefly3.66 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterThe 1948 Olympic single-handed class, this Uffa Fox design was the first sailboat ever produced by Fairey Marine
Finn (Monotype)4.50 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Richard Sarby-designed Olympic single-handed dinghy featuring an unstayed cat rig and a long history of competition

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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