Day Sailer

A pretty Herreshoff Haven 12.5

The Day Sailer

Wineglass transom

Adjustable Rudder

Lever for lowering or raising the rudder

You know ‘class’ when you see it. Yesterday, at Burnham Yacht Harbour I came across a very classy day sailer, in the style of L. Francis Herreshoff’s beautiful Haven 12.5. Herreshoff loved wineglass transoms, spoon shaped bows, rounded bilges and moderately deep keels. He often incorporated these stereotypical features into his small sailboat designs.


The boat at the Marina had similar lines, but she was about six feet longer than the Haven 12.5, and she had a centreplate that passed through a long shallow keel. Instead of a keel hung rudder she had one that could be tilted upwards by a mechanism that was linked to a lever attached to her tiller. The quality of build of this yacht was outstanding, including her functional, but attractive teak laid decks.


Just by looking at her lines, you know she will be fast, and her tall Bermudan mainsail and roller Genoa will make for efficient windward performance, coupled with her metal centreboard. Her folding propeller will offer little resistance and when it’s calm, her inboard engine will speed her along at a rate of knots. She is slung very low on her trailer, which means she can be launched into shallow water.


All in all, she is a very attractive day sailer that could be used for the occasional short cruise. Her boom tent would provide adequate cover overnight.


I wonder if her lines were drawn by L. Francis Herreshoff or by another designer influenced by him.


Links


L. Francis Herreshoff

http://www.herreshoffcastle.com/LFrancis.html

Herreshoff 12.5 for Sale

http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/8414

How to Build the Haven 12.5

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0937822132?tag=httpwwwhavenb-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0937822132&adid=1TMR5613NR1PK40913PJ&

14'5" Biscayne Bay Daysailer

http://www.schleiffboatworks.com/biscayne.htm

Burnham Yacht Harbour

http://www.eastcoastmarinas.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=2