Elliott 5.9 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Designed by the renowned New Zealand naval architect Greg Elliott in the late 1970s, the Elliott 5.9 emerged as a revolutionary "pocket rocket" that redefined the performance expectations of the 19-foot trailer sailer category. Conceived during an era of heavy, displacement-oriented trailer yachts, the 5.9 was a radical departure, prioritizing a lightweight hull, a high-aspect rig, and a powerful sail plan capable of early planing. The design was intended to provide an affordable yet high-octane racing platform that could be easily towed by a standard family car. Decades later, the boat remains a staple of the Southern Hemisphere racing scene, particularly in New Zealand, where it maintains one of the most competitive one-design fleets in the country. The Elliott 5.9 Class Association continues to oversee strict class rules that preserve the boat’s integrity as a pure sailor's machine, ensuring that older hulls remain competitive against newer builds through a rigorous measurement process.