Bembridge Redwing Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design Brief & Intent

The Bembridge Redwing was built for Corinthian day racing in the demanding, highly tidal waters of the Solent, particularly off the Isle of Wight. At a time when international classes were becoming increasingly complex and expensive, the Redwing was designed to democratize high-level racing while preserving the thrill of technical innovation. While competing designs of the era—such as the Dragon or the later post-war National Swallow—opted for strict, fully locked-down one-design rules for both hull and rig, the Redwing class maintained a "restricted development" approach. The hull, deck, and ballast profiles are strictly standardized, but owners are free to experiment with mast, boom, and sail configurations, provided the total sail area does not exceed 200 square feet.

This performance-oriented mission is reflected in the boat’s complete lack of interior amenities. The Redwing is a pure day-racer; it has no cabin, berths, galley, or standing headroom. The interior is a beautifully minimalist exercise in classic wooden boatbuilding, with varnished mahogany floorboards and structural oak frames exposed to view. GRP versions, introduced in the late 1980s, replicate this open layout with clean, low-maintenance molded interior liners that prioritize class weight-matching over cruising comfort.

Variations & Configurations

The history of the Redwing is defined by its evolutionary rigs and the transition from wood to fiberglass construction. The standard hull is 27.92 feet overall with a narrow beam of 5.5 feet and a shoal-friendly draft of 3 feet 3 inches 3. This shallow draft was a critical design choice, allowing the fleet to navigate the notorious shallows and ledges surrounding Bembridge Harbour.

Rig variations have spanned the spectrum of naval architecture. Historically, the class progressed from early gaff cutter rigs to Marconi sloops. The open rule book invited spectacular experimentation, most famously in 1933 and 1934 when the aviation pioneer Lord Brabazon fitted his Redwing, Kestrel, with a rotating autogiro rotor rig. In the 1980s, sailor John Cleave introduced a highly efficient "swing rig" that proved so dominant it was eventually banned by the class association to preserve fair competition. Today, the fleet has standardized around a highly efficient, ultra-tall, fractional Bermudan sloop rig developed by Olympic sailor Vernon Stratton. This modern configuration features a thin, highly bendable mast with complex running backstays and control lines to adjust sail shape on the fly.

In terms of hull construction, the fleet is split between historical wooden hulls and modern glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) builds. Between 1938 and 1950, twenty wooden hulls were built by Camper and Nicholsons. In 1989, designer David Cannell adapted the lines to a GRP hull form. These GRP boats were engineered with precise ballast and laminate schedules to ensure they perform identically to their wooden sisters. Today, the active racing class features a mix of both GRP and restored wooden hulls competing on equal terms.

Sailing Performance & Handling

The physical behavior of the Bembridge Redwing is deeply rooted in its classic dimensions and unique hull ratios. With a displacement-to-length ratio (Disp/LWL) of 272.48, the Redwing behaves as a moderately heavy classic displacement dayboat. This displacement gives the hull tremendous momentum and a kindly, carving motion, allowing it to punch through the notorious Solent chop without losing speed, a trait that lighter modern day-sailers struggle to replicate.

The boat’s capsize screening ratio of 1.6 indicates exceptional physical stability. Despite having a narrow beam that offers little form stability, the deep-set lead ballast package guarantees a very low center of gravity. This makes the Redwing incredibly stiff and virtually self-righting in heavy weather, although the low freeboard ensures that any aggressive sailing in a blow will be a wet experience. The comfort ratio of 20.75 translates directly to a gentle, predictable motion in a seaway. The boat rolls and pitches with a soft, sea-kindly cadence rather than the violent, jerky accelerations common to modern flat-bottomed sportboats.

A sail area-to-displacement (SA/Disp) ratio of 17.37, paired with its 200-square-foot sail plan, means the Redwing is surprisingly lively in light airs. Because the modern rig is so tall and narrow, it functions like a high-aspect wing, generating exceptional lift and allowing the boat to point incredibly close to the wind. However, when the breeze exceeds 15 to 20 knots, the crew must actively use the backstay and mast-bend controls to flatten the mainsail and dump power, as the narrow hull will quickly heel to its coamings. At the helm, the boat is exceptionally well-balanced and responsive, offering a tactile, high-fidelity steering experience.

Known Issues & Triage

For those looking to maintain or acquire a classic Redwing, the technical challenges differ significantly between the wooden and GRP cohorts.

Wooden hulls built between 1938 and 1950 require intensive, traditional shipyard care. Built with mahogany planking on oak frames, these vessels are highly susceptible to freshwater rot in the deck-to-hull joints, the transom, and the bow apron. The iron floor structures and bronze keel bolts are also common failure points that must be regularly inspected and replaced. Furthermore, because they are carvel-planked, wooden Redwings require a careful commissioning routine; if they are allowed to dry out excessively over the winter, the planks will shrink, leading to significant leaking upon initial launch until the timber swells back to watertight tolerances.

The GRP hulls, while far more structurally resilient, are not without their issues. The high rig tensions required to bend the ultra-tall masts put immense strain on the chainplates and the mast step. Over time, this can lead to gelcoat crazing, deck deflection, or structural fatigue in the fiberglass laminate around the chainplate bulkheads.

Across both variations, the lack of a self-draining cockpit is a constant operational concern. Because the cockpit floor sits well below the waterline, any green water shipped over the bow or heavy rain will collect in the bilge. A high-capacity manual bilge pump, a reliable secondary pump, and a traditional hand-held bailing bucket are mandatory safety gear for Solent racing.

Modernization & Upgrades

Modernization efforts in the Redwing class are strictly regulated by the class association to prevent any single boat from gaining an unfair hardware advantage. However, significant upgrades have taken place in the running rigging and deck layouts. Almost all active racing boats have updated their control lines to high-modulus Dyneema, which eliminates line stretch and allows for precise, repeatable adjustments of the backstay, cunningham, and outhaul from the cockpit.

Because these boats do not carry inboard auxiliary engines, getting to and from the racecourse has historically required either towing or the use of temporary outboard motors. Traditionalists long relied on custom-fabricated, removable stainless-steel brackets bolted flush to the side deck or transom to mount a small, lightweight two-stroke gasoline outboard. In recent years, veteran owners have widely adopted lightweight electric outboards. These clean, quiet propulsion units can be easily clamped to the bracket for motoring out of the harbor and then dismantled and stowed flat in the bilge before the starting gun, eliminating the smell, weight, and safety hazards of onboard gasoline storage.

The Verdict

The Bembridge Redwing is a masterful blend of historic Edwardian elegance and modern sailing development. For the classic yacht racing enthusiast, it represents a rare opportunity to compete in an active, historic fleet where tactical skill and rig tuning trump raw spending power. While it is entirely unsuitable for cruising, overnighting, or casual family daysailing, as a pure driver's dayboat, it remains one of the most rewarding and close-winded classics on the water.