Comet 20 Sailboats for Sale

Hull Type

Monohull · centerboard

Rig

Fractional Sloop

LOA

19.58' · 5.97 m

Disp.

1,600 lbs · 726 kg

First year

1970

The history of the Comet 20 is a classic tale of regional boatbuilding ingenuity and partnership schism. Born in Australia during the golden era of the trailer sailer boom in the early 1970s, the Comet 20 owes its existence to the Nomad 20. Originally designed and built in New South Wales by two partners, a subsequent disagreement saw the partnership dissolve. One partner departed for Melbourne, taking the original hull molds with him. Operating under the name Bardo Sales, he set about modifying the design to improve both its aesthetic appeal and its cruising accommodations. He raised the cabin trunk to increase interior headroom, added a sliding companionway hatch, redesigned the bow profile, and updated the interior fiberglass moldings. The resulting pocket cruiser was manufactured by Glascraft (FibreGlass Industries) in Victoria between 1970 and 1979, with approximately 65 to 70 hulls built. Though the Comet name is internationally synonymous with the highperformance cruiserracers built by Italy’s Comar Yachts, this antipodean Comet remains a distinctly regional, classic trailer sailer designed to provide an economical, easily managed entry into family pocket cruising.